Christian Growth Network : Redeeming the Time

Prayer is a great use of time. The world may consider prayer a waste of time, but in all honesty the more time we devote to God in prayer, the more God makes of the rest of our time in the day. Spending time serving others is never a waste. As followers of Christ, it is our mandate to be servants and to follow the example of our Lord. (Mark 10:45) Try making a list of the foolish versus the wise ways you could spend your time each day. This exercise will indeed prove to be a helpful use of your time.

As unbelievers, before we gave our lives to the Lord, we wasted time trying to gratify ourselves. But as Peter instructs us, “(we) no longer should live the rest of (our) time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.” (1 Peter 4:2) Considering all the time we have wasted on worldly pursuits, personal fulfillment and selfish ambition, we should now seek to use our time in a redemptive manner for God’s kingdom. We need to be particularly mindful in how we live around unbelievers. (Colossians 4:5-6)

Lord, I not only give to You my life, I give to You my time. I realize that the time You have given me to live on this earth is precious. Help me to make the most of my time this very day and to use it in a way that would help other people come to know You. As I yield my time to You, I ask that You would direct me in the ways You’d have me to use it for Your glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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The rising price of oil will easily make the headline news. The wasting of money by the government or corporations will attract peoples’ attention. The devaluing of a nation’s currency can send a rippling effect throughout the world’s economy. Yet, oil, money and currency cannot compare to the value we place on our personal time. Time is the most precious commodity in the entire world.

In any given day, you have twenty-four hours to live. That time will likely include sleeping, eating, working, recreation and conversation with other people. One thing you cannot do is extend the amount of time you receive in a day. The rich man and the poor alike will both receive the same number of hours in a day. Time is a precious gift from God that we cannot afford to waste.

The Bible teaches that we need to avoid foolish uses of our time and be wise in how we live. It has been said that a person’s checkbook can show their priorities in life. This is true. Yet an even more telling assessment of one’s life is how a person spends their time. Similar to how you evaluate purchases you make, consider the use of your time by asking, “Is this a foolish or wise investment?”