Articles
The Information Saturation Point
We live within what is sometimes called The Information Age. We have an abundance of information available to more people than ever [good or bad] — so much so that we often experience what some call information overload. We can access news and information more readily and faster than just about any other point in history, and the amount of information is arguably one of the greatest causes for stress and even depression simply because the amount can be so overwhelming.
According to current numbers, there are almost 200 million active websites, and over six billion pages of information just on the Internet, with almost 4800 trillion gigabytes of data. It doesn’t matter what our view on this, that is information overload. That is a lot of information available to anyone who jumps on the Internet.
Could it be that we have reached, or are at least nearing, the information saturation point? A saturation point is “the point at which no more (people, things, ideas, etc.) can be absorbed, accommodated, used, etc.” The information saturation point, then, is the point where we as human beings or society as a whole simply cannot absorb any more information and so we begin “tuning out” and reject anything else.
Why is this important? It is something worth considering because we who are trying to spread God’s word and teach as many lost souls as possible may be faced with the real possibility that we will meet more and more people who are simply uninterested in any new information [like what God’s word teaches] because they are already dealing with information overload. For some, they have already reached the information saturation point and cannot handle any more, or simply don’t want to hear or read any more. Some will just not be able to process any more, and will reject any and all attempts to teach them about what God’s word says.
This might remind us of what the wise writer told us many years ago: “For in much wisdom is much grief, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow” (Eccl. 1:18). I speak as one who loves to learn when I say that there comes a point when we must recognize that we don’t need to know everything, and we simply cannot know everything. Too much information or news or data, or whatever it may be, is not a good thing, for it is then that it is more likely that we will overlook, or simply be unable to process, some information that is essential.
Does it need to be said that, quite often, the information that is rejected because of information overload is the most important information of all — God’s word? In far too many cases, we humans are so focused on the material world and the information related to the material and physical that we have no time or interest or even ability to process information regarding the spiritual things — our souls, sin, salvation, and eternity. In such a world as this, we need to learn how to filter out the unnecessary and unimportant and make time and room for the necessary information.
For the people of God, it should not be surprising to read Jesus telling us, “…seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matt 6:33), because God should be first in our lives. It also should not be surprising to read the apostle Paul admonishing the early disciples, “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth” (Col. 3:1 2). As God’s people, we would hopefully already know that we should of course be thinking about God and the heavenly, spiritual things as opposed to the things of this earth. In short, the spiritual, heavenly, eternal things must be our priority — what we think about first and what we think about exclusively.
Because that is our aim, we find Paul admonishing the early disciples, “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things” (Phlp. 4:8). He was not saying to think on these things and the worldly things, or to think on these things if you find the time; he was saying “Think on these things to the exclusion of the worldly things.”
If we take the time and make it our primary goal to truly “meditate on these things” — first and exclusively — then we will have no time in our lives or space in our minds for the useless, temporary, worldly things. If we get to the point we reach an information saturation point, it will be from worthwhile information! We won’t have to worry about missing out on some bit of information — or a LOT of information — that we need to know, but will be at a point where we have spiritual minds and what we then choose to reject will be that of far lesser importance. Friends and brethren, I don’t think any of us have come to that point in regard to spiritual matters!
Take, for example, the greatest command to “love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matt. 22:37); if we take that command to heart, we should be inspired to learn as much as we can about God so we can understand why He is worthy of such love. If we put forth the effort to learn as much as we can about God to be able to truly love Him with all the heart, soul, and mind, we will know a lot about God, and we won’t bother to waste our time, energy, and intellectual capabilities in learning about the latest Hollywood celebrity’s personal life, the latest criminal activities and exploits of some famous professional athlete, or even the latest neighborhood gossip. We will have spent our time wisely and used our minds beneficially, and will have gained knowledge [and maybe even some wisdom] that will benefit us not just here on this earth, but will benefit us in the final Judgment and in all eternity. Please tell me how any knowledge of that Hollywood celebrity, professional athlete, or nosy neighbor will do us any good when standing before Christ to be judged for “the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad” (2 Cor. 5:10)?
The sad reality of our current society is that we have abundant sources of distraction, and numerous individuals and organizations whose sole purpose seems to be drawing our attention away from God and onto things and people who are not worth the effort. The entire entertainment industry maintains its hold on the attention of society by constantly promoting itself and its constituents. The business world maintains its hold on our attention by constantly advertising its material goods and convincing us that we need to spend all of our time buying their products, using their products, and promoting their products to others. For what? Is it for our good? No, it is for their material gain and continued existence.
Brethren, let us not forget that we who are God’s people need to focus on the spiritual things, the heavenly things, and the eternal things. Let us learn and know the important things — the things that God wants us to now for our good (Deut. 6:24). Let us learn and know [and do] those things that are pleasing to God (Eph. 5:8-10). Let us be diligent to be approved of God (2 Tim. 2:15).
With these things in mind, we will recognize the relative unimportance of everything else. And that’s okay. — Steven Harper
