A Timely Matter!!

                 Hurry, hurry.  Rush rush. We all have so much to do.

 Of course, we know this time of year can be stressful.  Mainly, we simply run out of hours in our day.   Yes, I know there are still 24 hours. We use eight of those for sleeping and rest we must go to work……not just in the office but just keeping busy with chores.  The holiday season is especially stressful.  So much to do and so little time.

We are all so busy that most of us only give fleeting thoughts toward managing our God-given time.   We are masters at wasting time.   But we have excuses!

Excuse #1 “If only I had more time”.  This thinking may indicate that we either are involved in areas God never desired, or wasting the time He has given us.  Too much spent time in activities for God and not enough time in His presence (think prayer)

Excuse #2.  “If I had the time that someone else has…….”  God gave each of us 24 hours.   The use of time is a decision process, not a product of fate.

Excuse #3.  “I will make up the time.”   Time is a nonrenewable resource.  Our time is a gift from God.  Once it is gone, it is gone forever.  We cannot produce time, nor can we control it.  We can only manage our lives within it. 

Excuse #4 “Time is money” Time and money are not synonymous.  Lost wealth can be regained, not so with time.  We can earn money, but all the money in the world cannot buy time…….. even one second of time! 

Excuse #5  “Keeping busy, is working for God.”  Not necessarily.  Scripture strongly rebukes slothfulness, yet busyness is not the road to godliness. Our Lord corrected Martha when she was more concerned with dinner plans than listening to Him.  Only obedience can bring godliness and the balance needed in our busy lives. 

The Apostle Paul wrote that we are to pray without ceasing.  Impossible you say??  Perhaps Paul meant that we should be mindful of our time.  This isn’t easy of course and requires diligence.  But as Believers we are to be ever aware of who really is in charge of our life. 

When I’m tasked with chores, I am reminded of thankfulness:   I am reminded that I have a wonderful home; when cooking dinner, that I have food to eat; when washing clothes, that I have something nice to wear.  The list goes on.  That’s thankfulness and using my time in being thankful.    

 God has entrusted to each of us a certain amount of time here on earth; time to serve Him and bring honor to Him.  Time is precious.  More so as we age.  It’s our job to use it wisely in serving Him.  Our choices make the difference.

Moses said it best. “So, teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom” (Ps 90:12)

Servanthood is our highest privilege.  Using our gift of time wisely will bring honor to him and peace to us.  As we minister to others, we use our time wisely; our families and friends will find that they enjoy being with us. 

The wisest and greatest use of our time……. is to use it for that which will outlast time.

The things of God.