Are You Bored?

Many young people today suffer from boredom. But you don't have to be one of them. Instead, become passionate. Here's how.

by Barry Kenavan

On a national TV show, a teenager who lived in a small town and had become involved with drugs said that his life was boring. The presenter, a well known life strategist, responded by telling him that he needed to find something to be passionate or excited about.

Have you ever said to a friend or to your parents, "I'm bored! There's nothing to do!"? Maybe you've even been heard to say, "It's so boring around here!" Have you ever felt this way? Have you ever been bored? If you have, you aren't alone. During our lives most of us have probably said that or felt that way. But if this is something we say or feel quite often, then we need to ask ourselves, "Is there something I am passionate about or could be passionate about to replace my boredom with? Is there something I could have strong feelings or emotions about?" There is some good advice in the Old and New Testaments about being passionate.

Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 9:10: "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might [ability, power, strength], for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom" (New International Version). What we choose to do must be right in the sight of God as well as the laws of the country we live in. Today there are so many things we can become excited about. The choices are endless. But how do we know what to choose?

There are some guidelines to help us make right choices in Philippians 4:8: "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, … noble, … right, … pure, … lovely, … admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things [carefully reflect on them]" (NIV). Whatever you want to become excited about, let it be sifted through the Word of God and the laws of your country. If it fits within these guidelines, you will know that you have made a good choice.

Matthew 6:33 also has some more good advice regarding these choices: "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." If we heed this advice and first become passionate about doing what God wants, then become passionate about what we want, we will find very little time to be bored. Our lives will be full to the brim and the word boredom will rarely enter our vocabulary again. VT