Always in a Rush: Part Three

Time for God

Paul gives us a straight-forward command when he says, “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men[1]”. When we spend too much time browsing Pinterest, Facebook or YouTube, are we using our time effectively in the service of God? How much time do we spend following human pursuits rather than Godly aspirations? Consider the amount of time we, especially in our youth, spend seeking after worldly pleasures such as playing addictive computer games or watching movies, showing off our “latest and greatest” gadgets or toning our bodies, and how much time we spend in the shops, watching sport or drinking and partying.

Now I am not saying that we shouldn’t go to the gym, or have a party, or buy gadgets. No, but often these things become a waste of time because we don’t use them in the right way, as they begin to rule our life. I hope to explain these practical aspects later in more detail. But what we need to keep in mind is that we are called to “glorify God in (our) body and in (our) spirit, which are God’s”[2]. Our whole lives belong to God.  What is our motive for doing things in life? Are we trying to be the best for men, or striving to do the best for God?

If we spend our time following after our own desires, making people happy with us, it naturally follows that we do not spend our time in the service of God. Our created purpose is to serve Him, for His glory[3]. So when He gives us time, we are called to use it wisely, because we have a purpose for being on this earth!

Looking beyond time to the eternal

There are many times when the world will mock us because of our use of time, and when to us the cost of discipleship may seem very high. If we think about the amount of time we spend on specifically God-centred activities the hours add up quickly (a whole Sunday, Bible study club, family and personal devotions, etc.). But when we take away our earthly perspective, and instead look to the eternal life that awaits us, then, in thankfulness, our discipleship isn’t so pricey.

We have a great comfort in this life that when we do all things for God, it will not be in vain. God’s promises are real and eternal, and therefore we can look beyond this life, to when time will be no more. Because of God’s promises, and His work in us, we can confess that “surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever”[4].

Our God is not bound or limited by time. “The LORD sat enthroned at the Flood, and the LORD sits as King forever”[5]. The time we have, however long or short it may be, is for the praise of our eternal LORD. The time of Christ’s return is near[6], so as saints, called to glorify God, let us use our time wisely, “eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will also confirm you to the end.” [7]

From Always to Never

Now that I have outlined generally how we must use our time from a Biblical perspective, I would like to discuss some of the practical ways this can affect our lives. I have already mentioned some examples, but I feel that there is more to be said in the application of what God says about time, and how we can perhaps change our lives to use our time more effectively in His service.

---

[1] Colossians 3:23

[2] 1 Corinthians 6:20

[3] Isaiah 43:7

[4] Psalm 23:6

[5] Psalm 29:10

[6] Revelation 1:3

[7] 1 Corinthians 1:7

Always in a Rush: Part Two

God Gives us Time

Everything we have, including time, comes from the hand of our heavenly Father. Each time we wake up in the morning, God is giving us another day for His service. We go to sleep at night expecting that we’ll hear our alarm clock go off in the morning, and that we’ll be able to carry out the plans we have for the day. But have you ever stopped to notice that our almighty God is giving us a new day? He controls His creation in such a perfect way that the sun rises and a new day dawns[1]- and each time this happens, God is providing us with more time.

Infinite God created time, for His creation has a beginning[2], and He determined the measurements of the earth[3]. Creation is limited by time, and we also know that our time, as humans on this earth, is in God’s hands[4]. We don’t know how many days we have, but we do know this: “When (man) dies he shall carry nothing away; his glory shall not descend after him”[5]. So, if God is giving us limited time and opportunities, how are we using them?

The way we use our time must be founded on what we believe. To quote Philip Ryken: “What we believe shapes the way we live. And the way we live inevitably reveals our fundamental convictions about God, the world that he has made, and our place in it”[6]. God owns us, and we are His creatures, created and placed on Earth to praise and glorify Him. So in everything we do, in the time God graciously grants us, we should seek to honour Him above all else.

Time for Service

Having been saved from sin, we have become “slaves of God”[7]. We are God’s servants, as we belong to Him. In all our planning and actions we are called to serve. Christ is our greatest example in becoming a servant, and we are called to follow Him[8]. Is the way we use our time accurately reflecting our calling to be servants?

At the same time as being servants, we may experience the blessings of being His children, including within the family of faith. And so we are also called to serve one another[9]. How much time or effort do you put in to help others? Are you willing to spend time listening to someone who is struggling, or take the time to mutually encourage others in their walk of faith? God calls us to serve in His church, and to follow Christ’s example in caring for each other.

---

[1] Job 38:12

[2] Genesis 1:1

[3] Job 38:5

[4] Psalm 31:15

[5] Psalm 49:16

[6] Philip Ryken, My Father’s World, 2002, p13

[7] Romans 6:22

[8] John 12:26

[9] Galatians 5: 13

Always in a Rush: Part One

Time from a Biblical Perspective

I mutter a quick prayer, grab my keys, and head out the door. My phone rings, and one quick look at the screen gives enough reason to let it go unanswered. I unlock my car, throw my laptop bag into the passenger side, and slide onto the driver’s seat. I look at my watch, swear under my breath, and jam the accelerator down. As I munch on a muesli bar, I run my fingers through my hair, and try to make my pants look half ironed. I desperately hope for green lights and no cop cars; at least then I might be able to have a coffee before my 8am clock-on time. Thirty seconds later, I slam on the brakes, silently cursing at the idiot who shouldn’t be in the right hand lane.

This is a fictional example, because in real life I often walk to work (but at the same time I don’t like to miss my morning coffee J).

But all of us can relate in some way to this short example, or perhaps draw it further into our lives.  Do we go from day to day rushing around like madmen trying to get to our next appointment on time? Do we go 63km/hr because it’s only 3km/hr over the limit… or avoid that awkward conversation because it’ll take too long… or not do pre-study for Bible study club because we didn’t have time… or (insert your own example here)?

In this article I wish to question what time means to us amidst the daily rush of life, and where our priorities lie in relation to this.

Always in a Rush

If any of you are anything like me, it’s difficult to get to places on time. It seems that being in a constant rush has become a normal part of life, also in general society. But should this be part of a Christian’s life?

To illustrate this further, allow me to ask some more questions. Are we prepared to speed because we desperately needed that 5 minutes on Facebook before we left? Can we skip our night-time devotions because we really need 7 hours of sleep? Can we get to church late and not mentally prepared because we needed to meticulously style our hair? I could add many more examples here, but hopefully you get the picture: We are constrained by time, and often this constraint results in negative effects or wrongdoings.

So then, if we are always late or in a rush, what becomes a priority? Getting to places on time, or meditating on the Bible and praying? Do we skip over things like family devotion time to ensure we meet our commitments? What is ruling our lives: The need to be at certain places on time or spending quality time communicating with God?

How we use our time- effectively and to God’s glory- that is in our control, and is also our responsibility. So, if the rest of the world is in a rush (because let’s face it, most things can’t wait for tomorrow), then how are we living? Are we conforming to the world, or using our time for a different purpose?