Giving Your Time - April 22

Read Ephesians 5:15-16

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.

Reflect

Prayerfully consider how you currently manage your time. Are there any small changes you can make to your schedule that could make a big kingdom impact?

Time. There never seems to be enough of it. I often feel like I am way too busy. I ask my friends how they are doing and the answer tends to be something like they are fine but their schedules are hectic. The general consensus is that there is never enough time to do everything we want to do.

We all have 24 hours in a day and on average, we’ll live about 80 years. That’s it. Our time is limited. If our to-do lists are too long, we have to prioritize and schedule the most important tasks each day. But I am a firm believer that we make time for what is important to us.

In today’s verses, the apostle Paul urged the believers in Ephesus to carefully consider the way they walk. Now, he’s not telling them to examine their gait and then try to determine if they are striding more than they are strolling or perambulating rather than promenading. When Paul says to think about how we walk, he’s asking us to reflect on how we live out our days. What is the pattern of our lives? What habits do we have? Do we walk out our faith or live like everyone else? Are we using the limited amount of time that we have on earth wisely or unwisely?

In his study Bible, John MacArthur explained what it means to live wisely: “To live morally is to live wisely. Biblically, an ‘unwise man’ is not so named because of intellectual limits, but because of unbelief and the consequent abominable deeds. He lives apart from God and against God’s law and can’t comprehend the truth or his true condition.”

Paul understood that we are only here for a season. Our time on earth is limited so we have to make wise decisions about how we spend the time God has given us. But if we are being honest, I think many of us are living like we have forever down here. We aren’t thinking about eternity as we go about our days and therefore, we aren’t living “on mission”. Sadly, if you look at the lives of many believers, they look pretty much the same as nonbelievers.

But what did Paul mean when he wrote that “the days are evil”? Let’s look at 2 Timothy 3:1-5 for added insight: “But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power…” That seems to describe the times, doesn’t it?

On God’s kingdom calendar, we are living in “the last days” which are the days in between Jesus’ first coming and His second coming. We know that His return is imminent but we don’t know exactly when Jesus will return. All we know for sure is that evil will continue to abound and increase as the return of Christ draws ever nearer.

Given this, we shouldn’t waste our time here! In Colossians 4:5, Paul said something similar: “Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.” Because time is limited and because we live in a fallen evil world, we should take advantage of every opportunity we have to share the Gospel and make disciples. Additionally, our lives should back up our beliefs. No one will take our testimony seriously if we don’t walk the talk.

I’m very busy. Chances are, you are very busy, too. But as believers, we should never be too busy to do the work that God has called us to do. If I don’t have any time to give to God, that’s a sure sign that I need to make a schedule change. How do we give God time? First, we spend time with Him in prayer and reading His Word. Then, we spend our time honoring Him by living obedient lives. We give Him our time when we serve His church, care for our neighbors, and share the good news of His Gospel with others. As we consider how to live generously, we need to think about how we can be generous and wise with our time, making the most of every opportunity He gives us.

Respond

Lord, I confess that sometimes, I can be selfish with my time. I admit that I am often busier than I should be with temporary worldly matters and I forget the significance and urgency of eternal matters. Help me to be generous, giving You the very best of my time. Amen.

Reveal

Reveal how much you care about someone by being generous with your time today. Be on the lookout for opportunities to take the time to share the Gospel, pray with someone, or give another believer an encouraging word.