HOW PEOPLE SHIPWRECK THEIR LIVES IN THIS DIGITAL WORLD

HOW PEOPLE SHIPWRECK THEIR LIVES IN THIS DIGITAL WORLD

A Warning and Edification for God’s People .

INTRODUCTION :

We live in the most connected era in human history, yet people are becoming more isolated, confused, distracted, and spiritually drained. The digital world—phones, apps, screens, platforms, trends—promised convenience, knowledge, and connection. 

Instead, countless souls are slowly drifting away from God, family, purpose, and righteousness. 

The Bible uses the word “shipwreck” to describe a tragic spiritual collapse (1 Timothy 1:19). 

Today, many are shipwrecking their lives through digital habits they don’t even recognize as dangerous.

 The danger is not the device itself but how easily it becomes an idol, a substitute for God, a trap of comparison, an open door to sin, or a constant noise drowning God’s voice.

This message warns us—members of the Church of Christ—to be sober, disciplined, and spiritually alert in a world seeking to enslave our attention and corrupt our hearts. 

Let us examine the main ways people shipwreck their lives in this digital age and how we can guard ourselves through God’s word.

1. THEY SHIPWRECK THEIR LIVES BY LOSING CONTROL OF THEIR ATTENTION

Digital Distraction is the New Bondage

Attention is life. Whatever captures your attention controls your direction. 

The digital world is built on stealing, dividing, and exhausting attention through notifications, endless scrolling, short videos, and addictive entertainment. 

Many Christians who once meditated on Scripture now meditate on trends and jokes.

 The Psalmist said, “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10), but the digital world tells you, “Be distracted and know everything else.”

People shipwreck their lives because they no longer have a quiet mind for prayer, Bible study, or self-examination. 

Even during worship, phones interrupt reverence.

 Instead of focusing on Christ, many focus on screens. Slowly, attention slips away from the eternal and becomes chained to the temporary. 

Jesus warned, “Take heed how you hear” (Luke 8:18). 

If we cannot control our attention, we cannot guard our soul.

2. THEY SHIPWRECK THEIR LIVES BY LIVING IN CONSTANT COMPARISON

Social Media Makes People Hate Their Own Life

The digital world encourages comparison. People see filtered lifestyles, borrowed happiness, edited beauty, and staged success. 

Suddenly what God gave them no longer seems enough—marriage, job, body, house, family, and even their spiritual gifts feel inferior.

Comparison leads to envy, envy leads to bitterness, bitterness destroys contentment—contentment is replaced by insecurity. 

Paul warned, “They measuring themselves by themselves are not wise” (2 Corinthians 10:12).

People shipwreck their lives when they stop appreciating God’s blessings and start living in imaginary competition.

 You cannot walk with God while envying men. 

You cannot pursue heaven while chasing digital applause.

3. THEY SHIPWRECK THEIR LIVES THROUGH ADDICTION AND LOSS OF SELF-CONTROL

Screens Become Masters Instead of Tools

Many youths, adults, and even leaders have lost self-control to digital addiction:

excessive gaming

compulsive scrolling

pornography

online gambling

endless series and entertainment

unhealthy chat patterns

Scripture says, “All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any” (1 Corinthians 6:12). 

Yet many today are under the power of algorithms, pleasure, indulgence, and anonymous curiosity.

Once a believer becomes addicted, spiritual strength weakens.

 Prayer becomes dry.

 Scripture becomes boring. Worship feels heavy.

 The digital world reprograms desire, reshapes appetite, and steals discipline.

A shipwrecked life begins with small compromises—five more minutes, one more episode, one more video, until the heart becomes enslaved.

4. THEY SHIPWRECK THEIR LIVES BY OPENING DOORS TO SIN

The Digital World Makes Temptation Easy and Private

In the past, people traveled far to find sin.

 Today, sin travels to them—inside their pockets. 

With one click, a believer can access:

filthy images

ungodly conversations

false doctrines

compromising friendships

violent content

gambling

scams

deceitful relationships

Temptation is now fast, private, and accessible.

 Many Christians shipwreck their lives secretly—while still appearing active in worship, singing, praying, even teaching.

 Jesus warned, “If your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out” (Matthew 5:29). 

In this age it means:

remove the app

block the site

limit the exposure

guard your mind

Those who play with digital sin eventually lose spiritual stability.

 You cannot keep opening windows to darkness and expect to remain in the light.

5. THEY SHIPWRECK THEIR LIVES BY FEEDING ON FALSE DOCTRINE AND CONFUSION

The Internet Has a Million Voices—But Only One Truth

The digital world gives everyone a platform—preachers, scholars, atheists, critics, false teachers, influencers, comedians, and mockers. 

Many believers spend more time listening to “Christian celebrities” than reading their Bible. 

Some follow “motivational pastors” who preach half-truths.

 Others get confused by denominational teachings or so-called “new revelations.”

Paul warned that some would be “tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine” (Ephesians 4:14).

When Christians feed on digital theology instead of biblical truth, they start doubting the Lord’s church, questioning God’s pattern, or adopting worldly ideas about worship, morality, and salvation.

 A confused Christian is an unstable Christian, and an unstable Christian is close to shipwreck.

6. THEY SHIPWRECK THEIR LIVES THROUGH LONELINESS AND EMOTIONAL DRAIN

Digital Connection Does Not Replace True Fellowship

People have 5,000 followers yet no real friend. 

Children live beside parents but communicate through devices. 

Couples live together but remain emotionally distant.

 Churches gather physically but members stare at screens.

Human connection—God’s design—is weakening.

 The digital world creates loneliness, depression, anxiety, and a false sense of belonging.

The Hebrew writer commanded, “Exhort one another daily” (Hebrews 3:13).

 True fellowship strengthens faith—but digital isolation weakens it. 

Many drown silently because they replaced real community with virtual noise. 

Their spiritual support system collapses, and soon their life follows.

7. THEY SHIPWRECK THEIR LIVES BY LIVING WITHOUT BOUNDARIES

No Limits = No Direction = No Stability

Many Christians no longer set boundaries on:

screen time

bedtime

what they watch

who they chat with

what content they follow

what they post

what they tolerate

Without boundaries, the heart becomes vulnerable. 

The wise man said, “He that has no rule over his spirit is like a city broken down and without walls” (Proverbs 25:28).

A life without boundaries is a life open to manipulation, temptation, confusion, and time-wasting. Boundaries protect purpose.

 Without them, spiritual maturity collapses.

8. THEY SHIPWRECK THEIR LIVES BY USING DIGITAL PLATFORMS FOR SELF-GLORY

Social Media Encourages Pride, Performance, and Fake Spirituality

Many showcase themselves instead of Christ. 

Some use the digital world to boast, argue, show off wealth, display achievements, or seek likes. 

Even spiritual things—Bible verses, prayers, worship—are sometimes posted for applause rather than devotion.

Jesus warned, “Take heed that you do not your alms before men, to be seen by them” (Matthew 6:1).

The digital world can turn a humble believer into a performer, a servant into a showman, and a disciple into an attention-seeker. 

Pride is the beginning of shipwreck because God resists the proud (James 4:6).

9. THEY SHIPWRECK THEIR LIVES BY LOSING PURPOSE AND WASTING TIME

The Digital World Makes People Busy But Not Productive

Many spend hours scrolling, watching, chatting, reading gossip, checking updates, or following trends. 

Time is consumed but nothing is achieved. 

Purpose is abandoned. 

Talents are wasted.

Paul said, “Redeem the time, for the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:16).

Every wasted hour is an opportunity lost—opportunity to pray, study, grow, serve, visit, evangelize, rest, work, think, or build character. When time is wasted, life becomes directionless.

 When life becomes directionless, shipwreck is unavoidable.

10. THEY SHIPWRECK THEIR LIVES BY ALLOWING THE DIGITAL WORLD TO REPLACE GOD

When Screens Become Idols

An idol is anything that takes God’s place.

 Today:

Phones are the first thing many touch in the morning and the last thing they check at night.

Apps get more time than prayer.

Screens get more attention than Scripture.

Entertainment gets more passion than worship.

Jesus said, “Seek first the kingdom of God” (Matthew 6:33).

But many seek first notifications, updates, and new content.

 Idolatry leads to spiritual collapse, and collapse leads to shipwreck.

CONCLUSION — A FINAL WARNING AND A CALL TO RISE ABOVE

The digital world is not evil by itself—but it becomes a spiritual battlefield when used without discipline, wisdom, and boundaries.

 Many today are drifting: slowly, silently, carelessly. 

They don’t see the danger until their faith is weakened, their morals compromised, their relationships damaged, and their purpose lost.

But God calls His people—members of the Church of Christ—to be different.

 To be sober.

 To be watchful. 

To be disciplined.

 To be heavenly-minded in an earthly digital age.

Let us put our hearts under God’s control.

Let us set boundaries.

Let us protect our attention.

Let us feed on truth.

Let us choose holiness.

Let us walk wisely.

So that instead of shipwrecking our lives, we may finish our course with joy, overcome this world, and remain faithful until the end.

To God be the glory.

culled from Bro. Sunday Ayandare.