The Clock is Always Ticking
See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. -Ephesians 5:15-17
The Lord tells us here in Ephesians to be wise and redeem our time. To redeem something means to buy it back in order to rescue it from destruction. That’s what Jesus did when He redeemed us from sin and death. God wants us to regain the wise use of our time by understanding what God’s will is, and living by His commands and standards. The older I get the more I realize that the clock is constantly ticking and we have no idea how many ticks are left. Am I making the most of every opportunity to use my time wisely by serving God and others? This scripture actually says that if we are not walking (a term for how we live) circumspectly (which means cautiously or prudently) that we are being fools! We are commanded to walk as wise women because the days are evil. What an understatement for today! I can literally say that I never thought I would see the world, and our great country in the sinful, sad state that we are in right now. This makes it more important than ever to walk wisely and not give up.
Another related scripture that I read in my daily reading this week is found in Psalm 103:13-16.
Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him. For He knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust. As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.
The only reason I know the names of my great great grandparents is because my Aunt Kathy has done an extensive genealogy of our family tree on my mother’s side of the family. Otherwise, they would have been forgotten as the family moved to different parts of the United States and lost track of each other. Honestly, most of us have no idea what kind of people our ancestors were only two or three generations ago. In the scheme of things, we are definitely like flowers that flourish for a little while and when we’re gone no one even knows anything about us! The only way to leave our mark on this earth is to spread the Gospel to our circle of influence so that they will be saved and know us in eternity. We can’t take any “things” with us when we leave this earth, but we can definitely make sure that we take people with us!
So, as far as making the best use of our time, what are some practical things we can begin today that will help us to be more effective as children of God? It is obviously God’s will for us to use our time wisely for His kingdom and glory. We all need to examine our schedule and our habits so that we can use the precious little time we have on this earth wisely. Time is one commodity that is not renewable. Once it’s gone, it’s gone forever. Let’s strive to honor Him by redeeming this priceless gift He has given to us. Here is a list of some things I’m going to be more conscious about as I try to redeem my time in the days to come. See what you think and feel free to add your ideas in the comments.
1. Get organized. One of the worst time wasters is having to look for things because your house is in disarray. Organize both your house and your schedule so that you are using your time efficiently.
2. Learn to use the notes app in your phone to jot down reminders. You can even ask Siri to remind you about things at a certain time.
3. Multitask when feasible. I know this is an overused idea these days, but it helps me. I can listen to podcasts while I do my kitchen work or iron clothes. Try to make use of times like this when you can do two things at once.
4. Spend adequate time in Bible study and prayer. Don’t think that because you are short on time, you can cut short your devotional/study time with the Lord. If you are short on time, you probably need to spend even more time with Him before you get started. Make a prayer journal to organize your prayers for the week so you can pray for certain things each day of the week rather than haphazardly saying a quick, non-specific prayer each day due to time constraints.
5. Don’t over commit. This is a hard one for some of us, but if you know that you won’t have time to do a good job on something, don’t agree to do it.
6. Go to church. You need to be a faithful member of a local congregation even if you listen to sermons on the Internet. The purpose of gathering with other saints is so that you have people who will keep you accountable. We all need face to face fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ. I think we realized this truth when things were shut down due to Covid-19. I was miserable when I couldn’t go to in-person church!
7. Read while you ride or wait. Be sure to take a good book or the Bible with you when you know you will just be sitting for long periods of time.
8. Pray and praise while driving. I would recommend that you keep your eyes open and at least one hand on the wheel while doing so, however!
9. Avoid television, social media, and Internet browsing. These are some of the biggest time wasters of our generation. Set a time limit for checking your social media and stick to it. Don’t allow yourself to waste time on addictive activities like these that are frivolous.
10. Practice healthy eating and lifestyle habits. You’re no good ill or dead! Take care of your body so that you have the energy and strength to serve God as long as possible while you are on this earth. I heard someone in their 80’s once say, “If I had known I would live this long, I would have taken better care of myself!”
