Wise with the Lord’s Time

Someone has said, “When we kill time we must remember that it cannot be resurrected”. A study revealed that an average 70-year-old person has spent 24 years sleeping, 14 years working, 8 years in amusement, 6 years at the dinner table, 5 years in transportation, 4 years in conversation, 3 years in education and 2 years studying and reading. The other 4 years were spent in miscellaneous pursuits. Of those 4 years, 45 minutes in church on Sundays, and 5 minutes were devoted to prayer daily. This adds up to a not at all impressive total of 5 months that he gave to God over the seventy years of life. Even if this man had been a faithful church goer who attended Sunday school and 3 one-hour services per week, it only totals 1 year and nine months out of 70 set aside for the Lord. The question for our devotion is, how much time and how many opportunities do we waste in the limited time given to us?  Jesus said, “I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work.” (John 9:4)

It is assumed that every true Christian should want to serve the Lord if for no other reason, out of gratitude for what He has done for us. The Apostle Paul has this in mind when he said through the Holy Spirit, “for it is the love of Christ that motivates us, because we have judged that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf” (2 Corinthians 5:14 – 15). So then it is assumed that every Christian ought to be asking God the question, “What will You have me to do?”

In the new life of the Christian God commands us to be wise stewards of the time of life that has been allotted to us, (Psalm 90:12), “So teach us to number our days, that we may present to You a heart of wisdom.” He also calls us to be given to the specific works that has been assigned to us for this life, (Ephesians 2:10), “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has foreordained that we should walk in them”. The time we have been given to live for Christ should not be taken for granted because at the end of it we shall give an account for our faithful obedience, (2 Corinthians 5:10),” For we all must appear before the judgment seat of Christ to receive the things done in the body, according to what He has done, whether good or worthless.”
 
The warning for us is not to be foolish (unwise) because though we have been given the spiritual capacity to know what the Lord’s will is, many of us lose sight of our priorities for which we have been called to live and serve. So those who are wise, meaning those who through the Holy Spirit begin to see as the Lord intends, are more committed to take advantage of every opportunity to live in a manner that pleases the Lord. Finding out the will of God is most likely when at least four conditions exist. First, finding it begins with desiring and wanting to do it. Secondly, being willing to do it before we know it enables us to see it. Thirdly, nothing can be the Lord’s will that is contrary to His written word. Fourthly, we can see/discern His will when we are filled with the Holy Spirit as we live in fellowship with Him.

Prayer: Father in heaven I know in my heart that it is a privilege to have the opportunity to be a faithful son and steward in the things that please You. Forgive me for lacking at times the perfect diligence, discipline that is worthy of You. Father, we desire to grow more so that Your will can be done on earth through us as it is done in heaven. We know that we ask for more than we deserve, but thank You for the promise of grace to help us in time of need.
By Pastor Wayne Cockrell