Don’t Be Doomed to Doom Scrolling This Summer. Do this Instead!
Reading As A Way to Steward and Not Squander Summer Spare Time
Summer has finally come. No more stressful assignments, lengthy papers, difficult projects, and unending homework. If you aren’t in school and continue to work in summer, the arrival of summer likely still means the vacation you’ve been saving up for all year is finally on the horizon. Or if you live in a four season state, province, or parish maybe you’re glad that there are finally some sunny skies and warm weather. Or maybe you’re someone who actually enjoys the winter season of cold, snow, and ice. I don’t know. But regardless of your specific scenario or situation, for most of us, the arrival of summer means the arrival of something we often feel we could always use more of: spare time.
The Dangers of Summer Spare Time
Spare time is important. Like any other activity in life, it has its time and place. (Ecclesiastes 3:1). However, the significant increase of spare time that often accompanies summer presents itself with many dangers. One such danger is idleness. There’s an old adage that says, “the devil finds work for idle hands.” It’s true. While this adage isn’t directly from Scripture, the truths that it intends to communicate are found in several places in Scripture. Being idle, or characterized by a lack of vigilance and diligence, increases the potential for temptation. (Matthew 26:41). In 1 Thessalonians 5:14 Paul says the idle must be admonished, and in 2 Thessalonians 3:6 he goes so far as to command the brothers (and sisters) not be associated with those who live in a way that is consistently idle, undisciplined, and lazy. The heart of the matter is that idleness poses a clear spiritual danger to those seeking to be faithful to Jesus Christ and so should be avoided when possible.
A second danger that often accompanies spare time is laziness. Laziness is a topic that Scripture is hardly silent about. If you are familiar with the Proverbs you know that laziness is one of its primary topics of discussion. (Proverbs 6:6-11, 10:4-5,13:4, 19:15, to name a few!). In case you aren’t familiar with what the Bible says about laziness, let me give you the brunt of it: it is not good and is never talked about in a positive light. Similarly to idleness, laziness is not meant to be a characteristic of the Christian and poses a clear and real spiritual danger. Instead of being lazy and idle, Christians are to be known as hard workers who spend their time intentionally, purposefully, passionately living for the glory of God and the good of others. (Titus 2:14, Eph 5:16). Laziness and idleness do nothing to serve the Christian’s ultimate aim and agenda of making God seem as great as he is through the way we live our lives. Laziness and idleness do not glorify God.
Therefore, if we want to glorify God in how we spend our spare time this summer, which I hope and trust we all do, we need to enter with purpose and with a plan.
While rest and relief from the rigors and realities of life is completely appropriate and necessary, falling spiritually asleep, wasting large swaths of time, and becoming apathetic in our passion for God and the gospel is an all-year round no.
Spare time, and time in general is a precious privilege and gift. A gift that we can either steward wisely, or squander foolishly. The choice is ours.
Doom Scrolling: The Epitome of Squandering Spare Time
Now it’s time for phones and social media to enter the chat. Without going on a rampage and filibuster (we’ll save that for another time) on the many ways in which social media and electronics threaten the stewardship of our time, I think we can all be honest about one thing. For many if not most of us, the number one way in which we are likely to squander our summer spare time is through overusing our cellphones. Doom scrolling, (which for the purposes of this article can simply be thought of as scrolling and spending inordinate time on social media and technology continuously with no purpose, plan, or intentionality.) the specific term I used in the title of this article is simply one manifestation of the common and universal human struggle of stewarding time. However for most of us, our electronic technology, our phones, computers, ipads, TV’s, and tablets, are often a primary of source of our distraction— places we turn to when we can’t think of something to do, or when we don’t want to do something we need to do, or when we get caught up doing something we weren't intending or supposed to do.
Unfortunately, by their very design and nature, our phones and devices have a tendency to springboard us into an endless and ruthless cycle of wasting and squandering spare time. And if you want to avoid falling into this all too common pitfall this summer, I want to suggest a specific way in which you can more effectively steward your spare time this summer: good, old-fashioned reading.
Reading: A Suggestion for Stewarding Your Spare Time
Reading is one of the best ways to steward your summer spare time. As pastor and author Bobby Jamieson says, “a good book is the best insurance policy against wasted time.” I couldn’t agree more. In an age where we are plagued by constant distractions and noise, reading good (intentional emphasis on good…) books is one of the best ways to edify our souls, engage our minds, and steward our time.
So if you don’t want to look back on your 2025 summer regretting how you foolishly squandered your spare time, I want to commend the habit of reading as a replacement to scrolling. And instead of simply encouraging you to read, I’ve done something better and have written a decently sized list of books that will edify and encourage your soul this summer. The list (shown below) is primarily comprised of books on Christian living and theology, books filled with nutritious sentences and luscious paragraphs, books saturated with Scripture that will surely feed your soul. Spending your summer spare time poring over the pages of such books really is an insurance policy against squandered spare time! I encourage you to order and start reading one (or some!). (If you want more recommendations, or a recommendations on a topic or issue not listed, let me know, or check out Tim Challies’ book recommendation page!)
Recommended Reading For Your Summer Spare Time:
Wisely Stewarding Spare Time is God’s Idea
In closing, I think it would be appropriate for us to remember that productivity and the stewardship of our time is first and foremost God’s idea and command. Ephesians 5:15-17 says, “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish but understand what the will of the Lord is.” Do you see?
The way we use our time matters because God says it does. And if it matters to God, then it should matter to us also.
So this summer, let us seek to steward and not squander our spare time. Instead of scrolling mindlessly, let us read a good book meditatively. Instead of seeking mere entertainment, let’s seek out Biblical edification, encouragement, and exhortation. Instead of going into summer purposeless and without a plan, let’s approach summer with intentionality, wisdom, and a determination to glorify God in all we do. When we look back and consider with joy how we have grown spiritually through careful and wise choices we made over the summer, we will be more than grateful we did.