Making the Most of your Time

Time

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 says:

1 For everything there is a season,

a time for every activity under heaven.

2 A time to be born and a time to die.

A time to plant and a time to harvest.

3 A time to kill and a time to heal.

A time to tear down and a time to build up.

4 A time to cry and a time to laugh.

A time to grieve and a time to dance.

5 A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.

A time to embrace and a time to turn away.

6 A time to search and a time to quit searching.

A time to keep and a time to throw away.

7 A time to tear and a time to mend.

A time to be quiet and a time to speak.

8 A time to love and a time to hate.

A time for war and a time for peace.

Time

I was reading a devotion today and it was on the subject of time. It got me thinking about that precious commodity and how we are bound by it, ruled by it, and for the majority of us, we try to make the most of it.

The devotion describes our attitude to time like this: "We manage time; we waste time. We spend time; we save time. We wish the time would come; we wish the time would pass. We see time fly; we feel time drag. We watch clocks and carry calendars, creating the illusion that we somehow control time, yet all the while moments flow forward like a mighty river that cannot be stopped, harnessed, or re-routed."

A Time for Everything

The book of Ecclesiastes states that there is a right time for every activity under heaven. 

In the Book of Esther, Mordecai tells the young queen that maybe the reason for her great beauty, the reason that the King chose to marry her, was to bring deliverance to the Jews, for such a time as this. 

Making Time.

It's funny that for how little time we say we have, we all make time for the things we deem important. We are hard pressed for time and pulled in all sorts of directions; with time demands placed on us that at some points seem completely unreasonable.  And yet somehow we manage, we get through another day, exhausted, ready to sleep it off and be refreshed for another crack at it but of course more time has slipped away. 

As I write this, I am attending a family reunion. Almost everyone of my large and ever increasing family has made it to this event. 

 We have come literally from all over the world to be here to catch up and have time together; it truly is an amazing scene. Over the coming weekend, we will take the time to re-aquatint ourselves with family, renew friendships, to forgive past hurts (if there are any), to reach out to that person sitting on their own. Time is short, time is precious, and the only thing you can take to heaven with you is family so this is an important time for all of us. 

Among the range of fun activities lined up, we will take the time this weekend to relax, unwind, have fun, catch up, and make great memories that we can take with us. 

The importance of time

To me family is very important, so is time. Both are precious gifts from God, and God will hold us to account for both: "What did you do with the family I gave you? What did you do with your time?"

Time is a challenge that will not go away. It does not stop or wait, we cannot turn it back. Today, according to our text, it is time: 

Time to plant 

A time to heal.

 A time to build up.

A time to laugh. And maybe a time to cry

 A time to dance.

A time to embrace 

A time to keep and a time to throw away

 A time to mend.

A time to be quiet and a time to speak.

A time to love 

And a time for peace.

How are you spending your time today, this week, this month, this year?

God Bless you as you ponder this thought. 

Erick.