Don’t Waste It

There is something in this world that we never seem to have enough of. We can’t buy more of it and once we spend it — it’s gone forever. We can’t freeze it or hold on to it — even in the moments when we desperately try to. It keeps going even when we want it to stop. Some have more than others, but we have little control over how much of it we get. We can’t go back in it and we don’t know how much more of it we have. Some use theirs more wisely than others and are more confident of what is next, but at the end of the day we often aren’t prepared for it to run out. Sometimes we race against it and sometimes we cherish it. Sometimes it goes too fast and sometimes it drags on. What is it? Time.

Time is so precious, yet we often take it for granted. Some people choose spend it on meaningless things and then get angry when it begins to run out. We are not promised a certain amount of it and with every breath we breathe we are using more of it. How often do we spend our time doing things that truly matter? Doing Kingdom work and serving others? We don’t know how much time we have, so why do so many choose to spend it angry, hateful, and bitter? I’m just as guilty of using mine unwisely at times as anybody else, but loss and grief have changed me and forced me to consider just how much of a gift this life truly is. It forced me to take a hard look at what I was doing and how I was doing it and decide if it was actually how I wanted to spend my time. I think it can be easy to get in a place of existing without really living. We can become almost robot like in how we do things and go through the motions of life without actually experiencing it. At least, I know that I’ve been in seasons like that.

I think that instead of being content to simply exist, we need to live our lives with purpose. We, as believers, have been called to a mission that is far bigger than ourselves. With every breath, every step, every second, we are getting closer to eternity. Why would we want to waste what little time we do have doing anything less than serving our God wholeheartedly and doing whatever He asks us to do? We are not all called to the same occupation, but we are all called to advance His Kingdom right where we are — to make disciples of all nations, including our own (Mt. 28:19-20). We are not all called to the same group of people, but we are all called to love our neighbor and our enemies (Mt. 5:44). We each have been given different skills and abilities, but we can all use them for the glory of God and the good of the people around us.

Let us not be people who are satisfied to simply exist. Let us live well. Let us love well, so that when our time here on earth does come to an end, we can say with confidence that we lived and loved well. That we spent our time doing what matters. That with the time we did have, we made a difference, made an impact, built the Kingdom — especially within our own family. God has blessed us with life, so let us in turn be a blessing by living our lives fully devoted to Him. Wherever He has placed you, serve Him. Allow His love to flow through you in your home, at work, at the store, online — wherever you may find yourself. The more we get to know Him, the more we get to know how to live the way He wants us to. The more time we spend seeking His ways for our lives, the more clear it will become. Sometimes He uses such seemingly simple interactions to bless others and to remind them that He’s there. Be an encouraging person, be kind, pray about everything, believe that you are who God says you are, spread hope and joy, and be a Kingdom builder wherever you go.

Proverbs 16:9 tells us that “In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.” Let us walk in His will, not wasting any of the steps we are blessed to take. Time is precious and extremely valuable — don’t wast it! Be a good steward of everything that God has given you from your body/health to your finances and possessions. Everything we have is His anyway, so seek wisdom in how to best serve Him in every single area of your life and use your life to show His love to others. I’ve heard the phrase, “Make Heaven crowded,” multiple times from multiple people — let’s use our lives to serve with that in mind. From the families we’ve been blessed with to the friends we have to the people we interact with in person or online — wherever we are, wherever we go, whomever we’re with — let’s be people who help “Make Heaven crowded!”

Song(s) of the Week: This week I chose “Live it Well” by Switchfoot and “The Motions” by Matthew West. Enjoy!