Every second counts

There are 24 hours in a day but, for many of us, it sometimes feels like that is not enough. We all have control over how we spend much of our time. The Apostle Paul advised: “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:15-16).

Time is such a precious commodity (Image source: Envato)

Three factors may be influencing our decisions relating to how our time is spent.

 

Overcommitment

If we are just too busy and overcommitted we may miss some important opportunities to draw closer to God. Consider Martha, the sister of Mary of Bethany, who was unable to listen to Jesus because she was too involved with food preparation. Her well-intentioned actions denied her the opportunity to learn directly from Christ (Luke 10:38-42).

Distraction

Becoming distracted from what we should be focussing on can also take up our time with less important issues. For example: It’s easy to spend too much time on television, social media, the internet or some hobbies.

In the Parable of the Sower, Jesus explained various reasons why some failed to follow Him, describing the third of these groups as follows: “Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful" (Mark 4:18-19 NKJV).

Some people hear God's Word but get distracted by worldly concerns which can decrease the time we spend studying God’s Word and "choke" our spiritual growth.The writer of Psalm 119 asked God to “turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things, and revive me [give me life] in Your way” (verse 37).

Priorities

Because time is such a precious commodity, we should ask ourselves, "Is there something else that should be given higher priority at this time?" Sometimes writing a list can help us concentrate on what is most important. At the top of our time priority list should be prayer, studying God’s word and meditation, i.e. reflecting on our studies (Psalm 119:15). We also need to see things from God’s perspective and spend time applying what we are learning. One reason we spend time with God in prayer and study so that we will begin to think as He does. Moses knew that taking each day and making it count for good was man’s real purpose and exclaimed in Psalm 90:12, “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” Colossians 4:5 tells us:. "Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one." We must always remember that we can never get back or replace a day that has passed. Our lives on this earth don’t last forever. King David knew this when he wrote in Psalms 103:14-16, “For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust. As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.” I Chronicles 29:15 expounds the same truth: “For we are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as were all our fathers: our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding.’”

The key to redeeming our time is to remember the purpose of our life as Solomon concluded: “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man” (Ecclesiastes 12:13). Although our years of life are few, Jesus assures us that this life is not the end, but the beginning. Jesus said to Martha, before he raised Lazarus from the dead, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die….” (John 11:25-26).

• Source:

  Beyond Today British Supplement (Jul-Aug, 2025)

• https://ucg.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Supplement-July-August-2025.pdf

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