“Making the most of your time, because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:16
There are many worldly statements concerning time, which endeavor to encapsulate the brevity of this precious commodity. Time, like gold, silver or precious stones, its value is premium because of its shortage. For example if diamonds could be picked up like any common pebble, their value would disappear. Time is precious simply because death is ever present and waiting to snatch this limited and precious commodity from each of us.
As we approach the end of another year and enter a new one, we are reminded of the brevity of our time. For some, time ceases tragically at an early age, for others, the time given is around three score years and ten, give or take a year or two.
So what does time mean for the believer? Is it our enemy, where we loathe the idea of the ‘grim reaper’ stalking our every breathing moment? Generally speaking that’s how the worldling sees time so they busy themselves in satisfying the lusts of the flesh - eat drink and be merry for tomorrow we die. But for believers, time, is a gift given to us by God for investment purposes that will result in eternal dividends. Our every waking moment of time needs to have an eternal perspective. We should never waste time or consider time as ours to do what we like with.
As 2015 dawns upon us, how do we intend spending this time? If we have been poor investors in time past, “now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2Cor. 6:2). As the text above cites, “the days are evil” - that is, death is imminent so invest in your time wisely for God’s glory. Happy New Year!