Time is Precious

Psalm 90:12 (NIV)  Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

As part of a group study I am doing, I engaged in a 48-hour media fast this past week. The purpose was to eliminate all TV watching, radio listening, internet time, emailing, podcast listening, and pretty much most things electronic or digital. I did keep my phone on for calls. I did not look at emails, check on or hear weather forecasts (or any news), or look at Facebook, etc.

You would think that 48 hours of this is not very long. But one thing I found is that I seemed to have a lot more time on my hands: time that I used to start a book that has been sitting in my briefcase for at least a month. I also had a lot of time just to think. I had time when I was not doing work-related activity that I was not used to having. I had more time to pray. I had more time for undistracted conversation with Joanne. I even had time to take a nap both days, something I rarely do. My “new-found” time enabled me to do a little more (work) around the house than I usually do.

All of this made me realize that I actually have more time available to me than I often think I have. It challenged me to be more aware of time wasters that do not serve as the optimal or best use of my hours. I am not sure if I will continue to do such “fasts”. I think if I don’t, then it will be easy to slip back into a less guarded use of my time.

Time is a precious commodity in our lives. Exercises like this one can help us evaluate if we are serving God with our time. The time God provides to us is a gift from Him that can be used for His purposes and glory, or for our own selfish ends. I am reminded of an old rhyme I learned as a child – “Only one life, ’twill soon be past: only what’s done for Christ will last.” Another way to think of this is that time is worship… or not. Another old saying is that “Time is money.” That is one way to look at it. But as a disciple of Jesus saved by God’s grace, I think that understanding time as worship (or not) is a much more powerful – and spiritually healthy – way to think about time.

Here is the question: How does my use of time (even small bits of time) glorify God? I honestly believe that there are times in our lives when taking a nap (or just sleeping more) is the most spiritual thing we can do – so that our bodies are renewed and our service to the Lord is enhanced. Then there are times that too much sleeping is just an expression of laziness, or poor time management (staying up too late, for example). I would never dictate to anyone how to use their hours. But I do know that God knows the difference between hours in my life that honor Him, and hours (or even minutes) that do not.

I am the last person to be a lecturer on this subject. In reality I am just a learner. May we together be intentional about guarding our time and continuing to learn how we may best glorify our Lord in how we use our days. I have noticed as I have grown older that my days seem to pass more quickly. But every day is the same (timewise) and is a great opportunity to experience the abundant life that Jesus gives.

1 Corinthians 7:29-31 (NIV) ²⁹  What I mean, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none; ³⁰  those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; ³¹  those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.

Ephesians 5:15-16 (NIV) ¹⁵  Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶  making the most of every opportunity (redeeming the time), because the days are evil.

Ecclesiastes 12:1 (NIV)  Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, "I find no pleasure in them"--

PRAYER:  Lord God, let me look at time as your gift. Let me enjoy it and lovingly – not legalistically – use it with you and for your glory, and thus bring honor to your name. Thank you. In Jesus’ name I pray, AMEN.”

Jesus Christ is Lord!   

Scott

God Is Always Faithful

Deuteronomy 31:6 (NIV)  Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."

I watched part of (including the end of) the Minnesota Vikings-New Orleans Saints playoff game last Sunday. The sports commentators and pundits have probably said all that needs to be said about that “miracle” ending, but I was struck with quickness and depth of emotional change on the part of both teams and their fans. The Vikings had taken the lead and things looked great for them. Then the Saints kicked a field goal with less than a minute left and took the lead. It then looked hopeless for the Vikings. With 10 seconds left Case Keenum, the quarterback of the Vikings threw a pass that – caught or dropped – should have virtually ended the game. But the defender failed to stop the pass and then to stop the receiver who caught the pass… and then Stefon Diggs ran all the way to the end zone – untouched – for a touchdown as time ran out and the win. The stadium full of Vikings fans roared and rejoiced, while Saints fans everywhere were stunned into disappointed sadness and the team could barely be mustered for the required extra point play.

Things like this happen often in sports. The drama of it all is one of the things that attracts fans. While we enjoy being on the winning end of things, fans also suffer through the losing end of some hard losses. Sports is not the only arena in life where such dramatic changes can happen. I worked with a pastor many years ago who often reminded the congregation – when they would become a little too confident in the church’s bank accounts or when people rested spiritually on their own laurels – “God can take it all away in a moment.” His purpose was not to be negative or depressing, but to be sober-minded and to call us to be careful to avoid being presumptuous upon God and His blessings: to enjoy them for sure, and to glorify God in/for them for sure, but to avoid any and all self-assurance in favor of God-assurance.

Any of our lives can change in the briefest moment of time – for good or for bad. The loss of a loved one, an injury in an accident, a diagnosis of disease, the loss of a job, a natural disaster… or an unexpected gift in the mail, the positive result of a pregnancy test, the news you got the job or made the team or passed the test… these are but a few examples of things that can send your emotions soaring or diving very quickly.

It is a comfort to know the Lord in the midst of the rollercoaster of life. The Lord does not change in our lowest lows and our highest highs. He’s there, always the same. But He does not remove us from them, either. He “rides along”, if you will, without change in His plan for us and His love and care for us. One of the favorite hymns in the lives of many, and certainly in my life is Thomas Chisholm’s Great Is Thy Faithfulness…

“Great is Thy faithfulness,” O God my Father,

There is no shadow of turning with Thee;

Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not

As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.

     

“Great is Thy faithfulness!” “Great is Thy faithfulness!”

      Morning by morning new mercies I see;

All I have needed Thy hand hath provided—

       “Great is Thy faithfulness,” Lord, unto me!

Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest,

Sun, moon and stars in their courses above,

Join with all nature in manifold witness

To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,

Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;

Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,

Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

Psalm 23:1-6 (NIV) ¹  The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. ²  He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, ³  he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. ⁴  Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. ⁵  You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. ⁶  Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Lamentations 3:21-26 (NIV) ²¹  Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: ²²  Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. ²³  They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. ²⁴  I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him." ²⁵  The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; ²⁶  it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.

Malachi 3:6 (NIV)  "I the LORD do not change. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed.

James 1:17 (NIV)  Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

PRAYER:  Lord God, I look to you in the depths of my lowest lows, and I look to you in the heights of my highest highs. Most of my life is lived in between them, and I look to you then and there as well. Thank you that you never leave nor forsake me. You are my Hope in all things. In Jesus’ name I pray, AMEN.”

Jesus Christ is Lord!   

Scott