It never ceases to amaze me how time marches on! Just this morning I was discussing with my wife some of the items that need to be taken care of for Christmas. This discussion and my Bible reading this morning reminded me of our need to be intentional about how we use our time. As we approach a new year, we should start to give some thought to making our time count.
I am currently reading in Ecclesiastes. There are some who would rather avoid Solomon’s contemplations on life, because they present a world that does not fit nicely into our box of how things should work. The passage that stood out to me, is a regular refrain in his struggle to unpack the meaning and purpose of live. “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going.” (Ecclesiastes 9:10) . How is that for bluntness?! He reminds us that we all have a physical expiration date when we will be pulled off the shelf of the land of the living. We know this, but all too often we fail to live guided by this reality.
The risk of ignoring the value of each year, month, week, day and hour turns us into zombies lumbering though life. The reality is that each of us only has so much time. King David asked the Lord to help him be mindful of this reality; “O Lord, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am! Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath! Selah” (Psalm 39:4–5). Our time on earth is a limited resource. Yes, if we know Christ we will spend eternity with Christ, but our ministry for Him is in the time that has been allotted to us.
For those of us who belong to Jesus, we have so much to live for. Let us not miss the opportunities each day to truly live life. One of Solomon’s conclusions was to enjoy the simple things that we take for granted. “I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God’s gift to man.” (Ecclesiastes 3:12–13). It is amazing the blessings there are in taking advantage of each opportunity, even in something as routine as meal times. Caryl and I have found meals to be one the best times to connect with each other and with others. There may be other overlooked opportunities like the time we spend with our kids transporting them to various events. We need to be intentional about enjoying those often missed opportunities.
We also need to take advantage of the opportunities we have to influence others for Christ. The apostle Peter said it this way, “so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.” (1 Peter 4:2). One of the greatest joys for the follower of Jesus is to serve Him by serving others.
The bottom line is our life is a very special gift from our Creator. Let’s be intentional about making it count by enriching ourselves and especially by impacting others for Jesus!
-Pastor Joe Parkinson