Time is precious. It is non-renewable. It never stops. I am closer to death now than when I woke up this morning. I don’t say that to be dark, rather I say it to put time in perspective. The society we live in tells us that time is money. We are told to spend our time how we want to. Too often we are encouraged to spend our time on things that are of little value and yet of huge consequence simply because of what we’re not doing while we are doing whatever it is. As of late, God has been giving me revelation concerning time and its value.
Paul tells us in Ephesians 5 to live wisely. He says this is done making the best use of our time (v. 15-16). I find it interesting that Paul connects wisdom and the use of our time. Paul understood the value of time. He understood its finality. Every second that passed was one he would never get back. We see throughout the New Testament that Paul conducted his life intentionally. He was completely abandoned to the call of God on his life. He didn’t waste time. 2000 years later we are still enjoying the benefits of Paul’s intentionality. Jesus conducted His life in a similar fashion.
Jesus sent out His disciples in Luke chapter 10. He told them not to greet anyone on the road (v. 4). I don’t think Jesus was being rude. Rather, I think He knew that He had no time to spare. God had given Him an assignment that would take three years to complete. The clock was ticking. Again, we are enjoying the benefits of Jesus’ time management today.
Time is important to God. We are exhorted in the New Testament to use it wisely, to redeem it. God’s call on our lives should have preeminence over everything in our lives. Yet, God is not a slave driver. He wants us to enjoy family, friends, Saturday mornings and Friday nights. We find ourselves in the tension of living intentionally to see God’s Kingdom come and knowing how to rest and have fun. Both are important and both are necessary.
How many of us can recall countless instances we literally wasted time? Spent it on inconsequential things that were of no benefit to our souls, family, or friends. God is teaching me how to use my time more wisely. He is teaching me how to rest and man is it hard.
Free time is one of the most difficult things for me. I have found in my life if I don’t have a plan or vision for my free time Satan or someone else will. I usually find that I waste my time when I have put no thought into how I am going to spend it. Proverbs 8:19 tells us that without vision we perish. This is especially true with our time. How are you going to spend those 3 hours of free time after work? How are you going to spend Christmas break? Vacation? Saturday?
I am challenging you as I am being challenged myself to spend time more wisely. Taking a nap or watching television isn’t wrong. Sometimes that is exactly what we need. But what if we had vision for how we spent our free time? How much healthier and happier would we be? Our families? How much more time would we have to sow into meaningful relationships? How much stress could we remove from our lives? Remember, God didn’t take the seventh day off— He rested. There is a difference.
Paul tells us in Ephesians 5 to live wisely. He says this is done making the best use of our time (v. 15-16). I find it interesting that Paul connects wisdom and the use of our time. Paul understood the value of time. He understood its finality. Every second that passed was one he would never get back. We see throughout the New Testament that Paul conducted his life intentionally. He was completely abandoned to the call of God on his life. He didn’t waste time. 2000 years later we are still enjoying the benefits of Paul’s intentionality. Jesus conducted His life in a similar fashion.
Jesus sent out His disciples in Luke chapter 10. He told them not to greet anyone on the road (v. 4). I don’t think Jesus was being rude. Rather, I think He knew that He had no time to spare. God had given Him an assignment that would take three years to complete. The clock was ticking. Again, we are enjoying the benefits of Jesus’ time management today.
Time is important to God. We are exhorted in the New Testament to use it wisely, to redeem it. God’s call on our lives should have preeminence over everything in our lives. Yet, God is not a slave driver. He wants us to enjoy family, friends, Saturday mornings and Friday nights. We find ourselves in the tension of living intentionally to see God’s Kingdom come and knowing how to rest and have fun. Both are important and both are necessary.
How many of us can recall countless instances we literally wasted time? Spent it on inconsequential things that were of no benefit to our souls, family, or friends. God is teaching me how to use my time more wisely. He is teaching me how to rest and man is it hard.
Free time is one of the most difficult things for me. I have found in my life if I don’t have a plan or vision for my free time Satan or someone else will. I usually find that I waste my time when I have put no thought into how I am going to spend it. Proverbs 8:19 tells us that without vision we perish. This is especially true with our time. How are you going to spend those 3 hours of free time after work? How are you going to spend Christmas break? Vacation? Saturday?
I am challenging you as I am being challenged myself to spend time more wisely. Taking a nap or watching television isn’t wrong. Sometimes that is exactly what we need. But what if we had vision for how we spent our free time? How much healthier and happier would we be? Our families? How much more time would we have to sow into meaningful relationships? How much stress could we remove from our lives? Remember, God didn’t take the seventh day off— He rested. There is a difference.
