We have probably heard the saying as a child, “An idle mind is the Devil’s workshop.” Although this is not in the Bible, the idea of filling any void, whether the mind or the illustration of a house swept and cleaned from evil spirits, either must be purposely filled with the things of God, or the void will be filled by the god of this world. As Christians, we must serve a greater purpose than mere existence and physical preservation. Life that serves no greater good or nobler cause is already under the power of the evil one. The idle mind was a description of the younger widows of 1 Timothy 5 whom Paul advises should not be enrolled in a hospitality service supported by brethren of that era. They would become easily distracted and abandon their “former faith” in favor of a husband and would learn to be idlers, gossips, and busybodies in the homes that of brethren to which they attend. The text reads as follows:
“Refuse to enroll younger widows, for when their passions draw them away from Christ, they desire to marry and so incur condemnation for having abandoned their former faith.  Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not.  So I would have younger widows marry, bear children, manage their households, and give the adversary no occasion for slander. For some have already strayed after Satan.” Paul does not condemn younger widows from marrying. Just the opposite, he teaches that they should start the role of service in the home with a new husband and rearing their own children.
The description of this lack of commitment and following after the flesh ends with the statement that they had turned aside after Satan. It appears that this turning aside unto Satan begins with a failure to set one’s affections on things above and being single-minded with our eyes fixed on Jesus leads to idleness, which in turn leads to gossip, and making other people’s business in their home our business. Too much leisure time today is an opportunity for Satan to stake out his playground.
So, be careful that you do not have much free time which places you in areas where you do not belong. One can appreciate the value of resting our body and mind from the stress of work at the end of each day of work. However, just know that the Devil is lurking behind the television set, the computer and/or phone to seize any opportunity to draw you away unto himself by the pursuit of unlawful things. Keep busy in the matters of your own affairs and responsibilities and “give no occasion to the adversary.