MAKING THE MOST OF OUR TIME

From Rayford's Desk...

As I was preparing to write this article on Thursday, I realized that the next day was December 1. Then I spent several moments wondering how it could be possible that it was already December. I have heard it said that as one ages, it really does seem like time passes faster. Of course, we all know that no matter how old we are, a second still lasts a second, no faster, no slower, always a second. No matter what year it is, there will always be 31,536,000 seconds -- I can absolutely depend on this. So, in reality time is not going any faster at age 64, than it did when I was 4, but it still feels that way. This is likely because as we get older, we realize that there is in reality a finite number of those seconds available to us, so what we feel, I think, is that each one is more precious and seems to pass more quickly.

All of these thoughts drew my attention to Paul's words in Ephesians 5:15-17, "Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is." (ESV) Similarly, the NASB translates verse 16, "making the most of your time...", while the NIV, states, "making the most of every opportunity...". All three translations help to make this truth, oh so timely. Don't waste even one moment in your life. Focus on being careful every day, how you walk, choosing to walk in the wisdom of God. That is how you will always make the best, the most, of every second and every opportunity that God allows.

It is interesting that Paul states that this is so important because the days are evil. Now, we understand that a day itself and those 86,400 seconds, cannot in and of themselves be evil, but the warning is that as we strive to walk as wise and not unwise, evil is all around us –– temptation is never far away –– and so, we must be striving to understand and put into practice the will of the Lord. We must fill our lives with the things that God says matters: love, joy, peace, patience kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23). Or as Peter states in II Peter 1:5-8, "For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." All of these things will enable us to walk wisely, making the very most of every second and they will allow us to experience the most fulfilling, joyful, successful life possible.

Rayford

 As I was preparing to write this article on Thursday, I realized that the next day was December 1. Then I spent several moments wondering how it could be possible that it was already December. I have heard it said that as one ages, it really does seem like time passes faster. Of course, we all know that no matter how old we are, a second still lasts a second, no faster, no slower, always a second. No matter what year it is, there will always be 31,536,000 seconds -- I can absolutely depend on this. So, in reality time is not going any faster at age 64, than it did when I was 4, but it still feels that way. This is likely because as we get older, we realize that there is in reality a finite number of those seconds available to us, so what we feel, I think, is that each one is more precious and seems to pass more quickly.

All of these thoughts drew my attention to Paul's words in Ephesians 5:15-17, "Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is." (ESV) Similarly, the NASB translates verse 16, "making the most of your time...", while the NIV, states, "making the most of every opportunity...". All three translations help to make this truth, oh so timely. Don't waste even one moment in your life. Focus on being careful every day, how you walk, choosing to walk in the wisdom of God. That is how you will always make the best, the most, of every second and every opportunity that God allows.

It is interesting that Paul states that this is so important because the days are evil. Now, we understand that a day itself and those 86,400 seconds, cannot in and of themselves be evil, but the warning is that as we strive to walk as wise and not unwise, evil is all around us –– temptation is never far away –– and so, we must be striving to understand and put into practice the will of the Lord. We must fill our lives with the things that God says matters: love, joy, peace, patience kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23). Or as Peter states in II Peter 1:5-8, "For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." All of these things will enable us to walk wisely, making the very most of every second and they will allow us to experience the most fulfilling, joyful, successful life possible.

Rayford