“Be very careful then how you live, not as unwise but as wise; making the best of every opportunity because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is,” (Ephesians 5:15-17).
In this passage, Apostle Paul presents some important lessons that we need to consider on time management. First, our time on earth is limited. We must be careful how we live.
The Psalmist says, “Show me O Lord, my life’s end and the number of my days. Let me know how fleeting my life is. The length of our days is 70 years. If we have strength, they quickly pass and we fly away. Teach us to number our days so that we may gain wisdom.”
I know for young people, 70 years sounds like a long time.
I still remember when I was younger; anyone who was 40 years old seemed so ancient to me.
Second, the time has value. How do you value a year? Ask a student who has failed an exam; in a month, ask a woman who has delivered a premature baby; for a week, ask an editor of a weekly magazine; an hour, ask a terminally ill patient waiting for a loved one to visit them; for a minute, ask someone who has missed a flight to an engagement that cannot be rescheduled; a second, ask an athlete who missed the gold medal by a second or someone who has said goodbye to a dying loved one whom they will never see again.
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Apostle David Owusu says, “Be picky with whom you invest your time in. Time wasted is worse than wasted money.” Do not allow anyone to waste your time! If you live to hit 75 years and above, statistics show that you will have spent seven years eating; 55 years talking; 24 years sleeping; 12 years entertaining yourself; and one year sick or recovering from an illness.
If you attended church every Sunday without fail for a year, you will have spent 11 months in church. My question is, if you had done all these, how much time would you have spent worshipping God?
Third, make the most of every opportunity. We need to do this because evil lurks everywhere every day. Jesus said that Satan is a thief who comes to steal our time because he knows how precious it is. Think of the time wasted on sinful activities.
It is not just sin that places a demand on our time, even good things do. In the Gospel of Luke, an account is given of how Jesus visited two sisters Martha and Mary. Mary sat at the feet of Jesus listening to his Word. But Martha was distracted with much serving. She approached him and asked him why he did not care that the sister had left her to serve alone. Jesus answered, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her,” (Luke 41:42).
Martha was so preoccupied with serving that she missed an opportunity with Christ our Lord.
American medical doctor Richard Davidson says, “The major maladies of our time are anxiety and stress which are caused by an overload of our numerous daily commitments.”
Fourth, understand what the Lord’s will is. We should not be foolish but understand that the Lord’s will is for us. “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil; to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11).
Ask yourself what is most important in your life and pursue it diligently: that which will affect your decisions, schedules, relationships and general outlook on life.
Create time daily to pray and read the word of God. Spend quality time with your family, spouse, children and friends. Put in your best at your workplace, especially as a Christian.
Live in the now: not in regret of the past or anxieties of the future.
A great future lies ahead of us and we must learn to ask the Lord to help us redeem the time for the honour and glory of his name.
I pray that you may experience enough: happiness to keep you sweet; trails to keep you strong; sorrow to keep you human; hope to keep you happy; failure to keep you humble; success to keep you eager; friends to give you warmth and comfort; wealth to meet your needs; enthusiasm to make you look forward to tomorrow; and determination to make each day better than the day before.