With all of the differences we share, we equally share one thing: time. We all get 86,400 seconds in a day to invest in the Kingdom of God or waste on ourselves. How we use that precious gift of time is vitally important.
Many surveys exist on how we spend our time on average. Years ago, one came out listing how a typical person spent their life. You may be surprised by the findings.
Sleeping 23 years — 32.9%
Working 16 years — 22.8%
Watching TV 8 years — 11.4%
Eating 6 years — 8.6%
Travel 6 years — 8.6%
Recreation 4.5 years — 6.5%
Illness 4 years — 5.7%
Showering/Getting Dressed 2 years — 2.8%
Bible Reading/Church Attendance 0.5 years — 0.7%
The survey is both interesting and convicting, especially when you consider it was taken before the invention of the smartphone!
How we use our time is more important than using our possessions!
1 Corinthians 4:1–4 (NKJV) “Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord.”
So many Christians think they don’t have enough time to invest in the things of God. They say they’re too busy with work, kids, or other commitments. But the truth is, we all have the same amount of time each day. It’s just a matter of how we use it.
Something interesting occurs for the Christian who chooses to abide in Jesus daily. They decide to read their Bibles and pray every day. They choose to live with the consciousness of the presence of God. They choose to lean on Him and not their own understanding. The more time you hang out with Jesus, the more and more you will become like Him, conformed into His image.
2 Corinthians 3:18 (NKJV) “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.”
The more we are changed into His image, the more we naturally act like Him. The more we see the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. His presence and power in our lives enable us to handle everyday pressures, love as He loved, glorify Him in all things, enjoy His abiding presence and comfort, make wise decisions in His wisdom, and so much more.
If we’re not careful, we can easily waste our lives on things that don’t matter. Deep down in your heart, I know you don’t want to waste your life! We can get caught up in the rat race of working to make more money or chasing after things that will never satisfy us. But if we take the time to invest our time in the things of God, we will find true life and satisfaction.
Matthew 25:24–28 (NKJV) “Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’ “But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.”
Time is a precious and irreplaceable commodity. So today, let’s resolve to use our time wisely. Let’s not waste our lives away on things that don’t matter. Let’s invest our time in the things of God and see what he will do with them.
Matthew 25:29–30 (NKJV) “‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’”
You can be sure that your investment of time will make all the difference in the world. When we take the time to invest in God’s Kingdom, we never know what impact it will have, even though we know it will be impactful. So let’s not waste any more time.
