HOW TO USE WISELY OUR TIME THIS YEAR --
Time is our most precious gift, because
we only have a finite amount of it.
None of us knows when our lives will end. "Do
you know what tomorrow holds for you? What is your life? A light mist, visible
for a few moments and which dissipates very quickly. "James 4:14.
Our days are in God's hands, and if it is wise to
prepare ourselves as if we are going to live long, it is just as important to
use our time wisely to make a difference in the world, knowing that we
are not sure we will live tomorrow.
Today we
must do God's will, today we must
show His love for one another, help the poor, visit the sick, make good
decisions, today we must be generous,
today we must have time for prayer,
and today we must be God's instrument
for someone in need.
The use of our time has an impact not only on our
lives here on earth but also on our future lives. Managing our time well, in a
way that helps us achieve our goals, while having a good balance between our
work, hobbies, family life and faith life, is an important part of our earthly
life. The present moment of each day is the time that God graciously gives us,
and therefore we should give it immense value. When your life is over, will
you be happy with the use you have made of this invaluable
gift from God, or will you have regrets?
A friend uses a classic illustration to compare the
short time we have to live here on earth with the eternity
that awaits us. He rolls out a rope about 10 meters long, one end of which is
painted red over a length of 8 centimeters. He says that we focus too much on
those 8 centimeters that represent our life here on earth, - on our personal
comfort, our social status - and that we ignore the rest of the rope, which
represents our eternity.
It goes without saying that
these 8 centimeters that represent our earthly life are important. God has
given us life and time here on earth in the hope that we will live fully and
enjoy it in a way that is in harmony with His nature and character. He wants
our lives to contribute to making the world a little better. However, these 8
centimetres do not represent the whole of our existence. There are many more
after that, and we should not lose sight of that
reality but reflect on how we use our time and what we value.
God has given man a brief moment here on earth, and yet eternity depends
on that brief moment.
We must recognize that the enemy of our soul is working in this world
and take a firm stand against it. This means that we must be attentive to what
is going through our minds - what we are listening to, what we are looking at
and how we are using our time.
"Take special care, therefore, to ensure that you
live in a way that is appropriate for you. Act with an awareness of your
responsibility. Do not live from day to day, without thinking further, like
those who do not know the true meaning of life.
Behave as wise people who understand the critical times we live in, and
know how to make the most of the present period. Become masters of your time, take advantage of all the opportunities, despite the
current difficulties. Yes, precisely because we live in a time when evil
prevails.» --Ephesians 5:15-16