I was thinking
about my recent reading from the classic time management booklet, Tyranny of
the Urgent, and this verse came to mind. "...be careful how you
walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the most of your time for the days are
evil." Then Paul quickly adds the how to: "So then don't be
foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is" Eph. 5:15-16 (NASB).
This is the key making any wise investment of time - understanding God's
will. That's how Jesus knew it was not time to heal every illness or cast
out every demon. That's how he knew when it was time to head to
Jerusalem. He understood what the will of the Lord is.
If we hope to
avoid using our time foolishly in this life - in our home, our church, our
work, and our community we will have to make time daily to understand the will
of the Lord. I thought about this - the only person who can best tell you
how to use your time is you. And the only way you can know how is to give
the first part of our time back to God and spend time alone with Him.
This is my
prayer: Father, as we each make decisions with how to use our time I pray we
are found faithfully seeking your will. And with that understanding we
will say and do or don't say and do as you would have us to. Amen.
Charles Hummel
outline for making wise decisions regarding the use of our time:
- Make a plan through meditation and prayer before you start the day.
- Resist making on the spot commitments.
- Evalute regularly - one hour weekly and one day monthly
"The only alternative to frustration is to be sure that
we are doing what God wants."
- Charles E. Hummel -
