Ephesians 5:15 states, “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”
The hourglass has turned, and there is no turning it back. Time is moving forward at a pace that cannot be slowed or stopped. From the moment you were born, the clock counting down to death began to tick. While this may sound negative, it also compels us to examine our lives and the value we place on ourselves with clear awareness. Graveyards are filled with people who ran out of time. How many of them used their time wisely, and how many squandered their days? This is not a question for the future but for the present. People often say, “I wish I had more time.” The truth is, we have the time we need, and it’s up to us to use it wisely.
Proverbs 3:1-2 states, “My son, do not forget my law, But let your heart keep my commandments; For length of days and long life and peace they will add to you”.
As we walk according to biblical principles, we are granted the ability to live our lives to the fullest, trusting that we are living to fulfill our calling and preparing for our eternal destiny forever in Heaven with Christ. Our spiritual responsibilities are not just tasks to be checked off, but a vital part of our journey. They connect us to our faith and to each other, and they remind us of the ultimate goal we are working towards.
2 Corinthians 5:17 states, “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” You and I, as believers, have been handed a whole new life. Our stewardship of this new life is what we will answer for.
Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 9:24: “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.” We must always remember that we don’t have any extra time available for a so-called rainy day. This leads us to these important questions: “Are you making full use of what you have? Are you dedicating your day to fulfilling the responsibilities and requirements that need to be accomplished? Are you employing daily disciplines to maximize the time you have each day, week, and year?”
Reflecting on our lives, we can identify many wasted moments. These lost times cannot be reclaimed or filled in; they will always remain empty. Each day presents us with new tasks to accomplish, and with 24 hours in each day, we must ask ourselves: “Are we using our time wisely?”
Every believer aspires to hear the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
The real question is, have we been faithful?
Matthew 25:14-30 is the account of the man traveling into a faraway country and calling his servants to him. He gives each one talents, or finances, according to what he sees as their ability, and then travels into a far country.
In this, we see how each one used and invested what they were granted. The one given one talent did nothing with it. When the time was up and the owner returned, he called due on each one. He promoted all the others according to the positive increase and diligence they had accomplished. They had used the time and resources wisely and had an increase when the owner arrived. The one who wasted it was rebuked as an evil and lazy man. He lost everything and was cast out. This story is not just a cautionary tale, but a testament to the potential we all have. How much more could each of us accomplish if we used our everyday wisely? The possibilities are endless, and the reward is great.
Psalm 90:12 says, “So teach us to number our days. That we may gain a heart of wisdom.” The first thing we need to understand is that recognizing the brevity of life gives us a heart of wisdom.
Acknowledging that our days are numbered should inspire us to prioritize our lives and be more mindful of the time we have.
This awareness encourages us to use our days wisely to accomplish as much as we can. As we grow older, time seems to pass more quickly. In our later years, we often look back and reflect on what we have or have not achieved.
For believers, it’s important to recognize not only the life we have been granted but also the new life we have received through Christ Jesus. We have been given the incredible gift of eternal life, which comes with the serious responsibility to run our new race with diligence.
Philippians 3:12-14 states, “Not that I already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do; forgetting those things that are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press towards the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
Proverbs 26:13-14 states, “The lazy man says, There is a lion in the road! A fierce lion is in the streets. As a door turns on its hinges, so does the lazy man on his bed.”
The best way to overcome wasted time and maximize our effectiveness is to take a step back and evaluate our day.
Ask yourself where you might be wasting time. What activities should you prioritize daily? Are there things you could eliminate altogether or reduce? Are you organized in your daily routine, or do you find yourself in constant chaos? Some people live their lives jumping from one crisis to another. Remember, time wasted is time lost forever.
Consider your daily routine: How much time do you dedicate to God and His word? How much time do you spend dwelling on past hurts or offenses? This is a significant issue. Many people stop living fully because of what someone else has said or done. Believers, we have been given the precious gift of time.
Ephesians 2:10 states, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” God has things for each one of us to accomplish for His Kingdom. He has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in Christ out of the heavenly places (Eph. 1:3) to achieve these. Our time is precious to Him, and we must value it for ourselves as well. Take a good look at everything you’re doing, and assess how much of it is truly for Christ and is bearing fruit. Sometimes, we might be amazed.
Finally, 2 Corinthians 5:10 states, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”
With this in mind, Believers, let us take a moment to reflect on our time. It is important to step back and evaluate how we are using the days we’ve been given and whether we treat our time with the respect it deserves. There will come a day when we stand before God, and on that day, we want to hear the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant. Welcome into the joy of your Lord.”
Blessings,
