Every Second Counts

We all have 24 hours in a day, but does it sometimes feel like that is not enough? Maybe we wish we had more time, or perhaps we are looking forward to retirement, when we might have more free time. If the latter, then think again. After retirement, days can be filled with new tasks, making us busier than ever. It’s not uncommon to hear, “I don’t know how I found time to go to work.”

From our perspective, time flies. The good news is, we are the pilot—we have the controls. Thus, we get to dictate, for better or worse, how we spend much of our time.

Biblical instructions

In Ephesians 5:15-16 the apostle Paul advised, “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”

The Good News Bible (a paraphrased version) reads: “So be careful how you live. Don’t live like ignorant people, but like wise people. Make good use of every opportunity you have, because these are evil days.”

On a practical level, how can we be wise and make the most of opportunities? Let’s consider some major factors.

Overcommitment

Irrespective of what we are doing, we need to ask ourselves if we are over-committed. Wasted opportunities can occur due to overcommitment. We may miss opportunities and fail to take advantage of using our time profitably if we are just too busy. Consider Martha, the sister of Mary of Bethany, who was unable to listen to Jesus because she was too involved with food preparation. Her well-intentioned actions denied her the opportunity to learn directly from Christ (Luke 10:38-42).

Sometimes we must ask ourselves whether there is too much going on in our lives. Do we have sufficient time for the fundamentals? If not, can we simplify our lives? There is a place for us in a very real Kingdom just ahead of us, and all our actions should be geared toward that end. This world is evil and will eventually perish. We must make time for the basics now.

Distraction

Do we fail to redeem the time because we are distracted? In His parable of the sower, Jesus explained various reasons why some failed to follow Him. Describing the third of these groups, He elaborated thus: “Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful” (Mark 4:18-19).

Are we too focused on the cares or concerns of this world? It’s easy to spend too much time on social media or the Internet following what is often referred to as “click bait” (moving from one story to another). TV can be used wisely, but for many it becomes a time-waster. Even a newspaper can hold similar distractions.

The writer of Psalm 119 asked God to “turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things, and revive me [give me life] in Your way” (Psalm 119:37). In this case, “worthless” doesn’t necessarily mean evil, but implies useless or false.

Instead, be wise. Stay focused.

Priorities

Another way to reduce wasted time is to prioritise our tasks. Write a list if it helps, and concentrate on those that are most important. We can waste opportunities to redeem the time simply because we treat everything as being of equal importance. We can do good but fail to do what is best.

King Solomon wrote many proverbs as well as the book of Ecclesiastes. In Ecclesiastes 3:1 he states, “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.” And the next seven verses list various aspects of life for which there is “a time.”

The important point to remember is that, while there is a time or a season for everything, there is not necessarily time for everything. There is a difference, and we need to be selective and choose to spend our time carefully. Personal time is not infinite. We can neither pause nor rewind it, nor start over as if in a game.

Because time is such a precious commodity, we would be wise to ask ourselves about whatever we’re doing: Is this the best use of my time right now? Is there something else that should be given higher priority at this time?

For example, Ecclesiastes 3:4 of this chapter says there is a time for dancing, but if we are dancing all the time, is it at the expense of sleep or study? Dancing, which may be fine of itself, would be wrong to do if it displaced more important issues that need attention.

We might be thinking that we need to devote all our time to studying the Bible, God’s instructions to us. But do you really think you can be a Christian just by studying? Could any of us fly an aircraft just by reading the manual? As learning to fly takes practice, so does being a disciple of Christ. We need to spend time applying what we are learning.

At the top of our time priority list should be prayer, studying God’s Word and meditation or reflecting on our studies (Psalm 119:15). Other priorities should include time for family (both blood relatives and our spiritual brothers and sisters in Christ) and friendships.

Room for improvement

I mentioned dancing before. There is nothing wrong with decorous dancing in context, but it cannot be at the cost of more important matters. I like watching motorcycle racing. After a stressful week I can chill for a while. I could easily watch a lot more of it, but that wouldn’t be wise. We all need some time to refresh, but that time is a single-use entity. Once used it is gone and can never be recovered.

Think of it in terms of money. We want a return on what we are spending. We want value. If we waste or throw away money, that’s it. Are we doing the same with time? Do we spend it wisely for the best return, or do we let it slip through our fingers like sand—gone forever?

Another aspect is to see everything that comes our way from God’s perspective. This is one of the reasons we must spend time with God in prayer and study so that we will begin to think as He does. Over time you get to know a person—what he or she enjoys, the person’s concerns and views of particular topics. It’s the same with God.

This, of course, can apply to a multitude of situations. We need to exercise the wisdom that God gives us. Turn away from issues that don’t matter, and focus on life as God has revealed.

Be content

The apostle Paul said he had learned to be content in all things (Philippians 4:11). In my life, despite the circumstances I have been in, I have always had a roof over my head, and I’ve always had access to food. I know that God will see to these things for me. On the other hand, time and how I use it is something I must decide on.

To possess the newest, latest and best gadgets, if that is within our means, is not a problem. To spend all our time and energy going after the newest, latest and best is folly.

Paul had learned to prioritise and focus, and to embrace each new opportunity as a gift from God. He was content to serve. He was an example of wisdom in action, a wise man who redeemed his time.

As Christ’s disciples, our primary focus is on God’s Kingdom, and we should always have an eye towards that goal. Is our time allocation helping or hindering that aim? We can fritter time away, or use it profitably. At the end of our days will we look back upon a life well-lived, or will we regret all the time we wasted?

If we are wise and prioritise our actions in these evil days, then we will focus on the right tasks at the right moment, redeem our time and enhance our relationship with God.