Too Much Time on My Hands

It may appear as though I have song lyrics on my mind, but they have just corresponded quite well with the thoughts on my mind. This one in particular came to me as I was working with my pastor's wife recently and she mentioned that the time God gives to her is not hers, but God's to use as He chooses. This is a very true statement I believe, one which we don't consider all that often. The concept seems to be very common when we discuss money and the fact that God gives us that which He knows we will use responsibly, yet when we try to apply this concept to our time, it is alien. Time viewed as an allotment from God to use for Him? Well, yes.

Over the years, my Bible study teacher has said that you will determine a person's heart regarding finances if you look at their checkbook register and their heart regarding their time if you look at their day-planner. How true! So how does yours look? Are you too busy with things that will burn like running here and there, shopping, even working extra hours for that yearly vacation? Or are you spending time seeking God's "to-do" list for your day? It will probably look more like; making that phone call you keep putting off, helping your neighbor with something they mentioned awhile ago or spending extra time with your child or spouse. Sometimes we are doing things that we think are for God, but if He doesn't ask you to do it then it isn't on His agenda and may still "burn".   

I don't work outside the home anymore as God has truly blessed my husband and I with this gift, but as I have more time on my hands, I find it difficult to give of it freely. I tend to hoard it and behave as though it is in limited supply. In fact it is in limited supply, but that shouldn't be my concern. God may allow me to live to be one hundred or He may take me much sooner, but nevertheless, I can only be concerned with today. Therefore, I need to be completely sensitive to the following thought: If this is my last day, how would God choose for me to spend it? Most times, it is doing something that was not even close to being on my agenda! However, when I am obedient to Him and do as He asks, I am abundantly blessed.

I challenge you to seriously take a look at the things that you spend your time on throughout the day. One pastor suggested that you log every hour of the day and write down what you do every day for thirty days. It would be an eye-opener to most of us to see where our time is spent. Then as we evaluate the list, consider what things are going to burn up when we go through our "awards" ceremony in heaven. As I was listening to the pastor teach on this, I had just finished spending three straight days working on projects around our place. This is something that I thoroughly enjoy and feel is quite important. After hearing his message, I decided that this ranked a little higher on my priority list than it probably ranked on God's! I do believe that keeping our place up is important to God, but I had put off other things, like serious time in His Word, calling a few people that He had laid on my heart and seeking His day-planner for those few days! I may have missed out on opportunities to serve Him in ways that would remain at the "awards" ceremony. Once again I am reminded that this life is not about me and my wants or desires, but as my profile states, for Him to do as He chooses. 

1st Corinthians 3:10-15