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28 September 2007
Ephesians 5 v 15-17
So be very careful how you live. Do not live like those who are not wise, but live wisely. Use every chance you have for doing good, because these are evil times. So do not be foolish but learn what the Lord wants you to do.
Time is a funny thing - most of the time you just don't seem to have enough of it, you're forever running around trying to get everything done and there just aren't enough hours in the day! We're always trying to find new ways to get more things done, and the inventors of 'labour-saving devices' can earn themselves a fortune.
Why is our time so important to us? Because it is limited and precious - the Psalms tell us "people are like a breath; their lives like a passing shadow" (Psalm 144:4).
Our time is so precious, in fact, that our reading tells us not to waste any of it. Instead of throwing our time away on silly things, we should be "careful" how we live, always using "every chance" to do good for others. I remember spending a long, wet May evening out door-to-door collecting for Christian Aid. People asked me; "why are you doing this? You must have better things to do at home." The truth is, there were plenty of things at home that I'd rather have been doing - like catching up on the TV I'd missed during the week - but were these better things to be doing? Not according to this reading!
Jesus' short life is our ultimate example of wise living. He gave himself up selflessly and sacrificially for others, and so should we.
Heavenly Father, it seems that I never have enough time in the day to get everything done and give the time to you that I should be doing. Things always seem to come along and get in the way. Please teach me to use my time sensibly, and help me to find the time to help others and get to know you better. Amen.
Written by David Redfield
Ephesians 5 v 15-17
So be very careful how you live. Do not live like those who are not wise, but live wisely. Use every chance you have for doing good, because these are evil times. So do not be foolish but learn what the Lord wants you to do.
Time is a funny thing - most of the time you just don't seem to have enough of it, you're forever running around trying to get everything done and there just aren't enough hours in the day! We're always trying to find new ways to get more things done, and the inventors of 'labour-saving devices' can earn themselves a fortune.
Why is our time so important to us? Because it is limited and precious - the Psalms tell us "people are like a breath; their lives like a passing shadow" (Psalm 144:4).
Our time is so precious, in fact, that our reading tells us not to waste any of it. Instead of throwing our time away on silly things, we should be "careful" how we live, always using "every chance" to do good for others. I remember spending a long, wet May evening out door-to-door collecting for Christian Aid. People asked me; "why are you doing this? You must have better things to do at home." The truth is, there were plenty of things at home that I'd rather have been doing - like catching up on the TV I'd missed during the week - but were these better things to be doing? Not according to this reading!
Jesus' short life is our ultimate example of wise living. He gave himself up selflessly and sacrificially for others, and so should we.
Heavenly Father, it seems that I never have enough time in the day to get everything done and give the time to you that I should be doing. Things always seem to come along and get in the way. Please teach me to use my time sensibly, and help me to find the time to help others and get to know you better. Amen.
Written by David Redfield
