Ephesians 5:15,16
“Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.”
Life is full of regrets. This verse encourages us to avoid making more of those. If the clock would be wound back there is plenty that I would redo.
To inventory a typical day, we spend the majority of it working. When we get home there are responsibilities: feeding the animals, dinner, clean up, paying bills, and typical maintainence. This is just the beginning.
Does God want us to use our time for godly things? We should have a ministry. Ephesians 4:12 says, “for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;” We are to have times inwhich we are giving of ourselves for God’s people. This also differs according to our gifts. We are also to be involved in fellowship. Acts 2:42 tells us, “They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”
We are also to spend time with our family and friends. Our spouses and kids should be loved and secure in themselves as much as we can contribute. Once we have done our best, we should be praying that God keeps them, guides them and blesses them. We are to nurture our friendships as well. These relationships come after family. It’s important that we also receive from our relationships. We need to have relationships that we give, receive and others that we enjoy.
We need leisure after this. God has built in the sabbath. It’s obvious that we can rest more than once a week. I have found that if we have worked our bodies and minds will take the rest, even if we don’t want to provide it. Much like an overworked machine will break down if not maintainenced properly, so we will have no drive. We need rest and our minds won’t keep working. I’m in grad school in the evening after having worked a full day. My last class is on Thursday. I get home about 7:30. I have learned that I need to rest the remainder of the night and usually friday night also. I just don’t have any drive to work. I think this is part of wisdom. We get to know ourselves and what we can take.
One aspect of giving of ourselves in a godly life is that God sees this. Much like He wants us to give of our finances and He will provide for us. So also, if we give of our time, He will refresh us and fill us with His peace and joy. It’s not like we’ve earned it, He gives it. So, while we need to take our rest, He will do His part and bless us. Part of this is living life as it was intended. Just as Adam and Eve walked with Him in the garden, so we are to live as if walking with Him. It’s not a mental trick, just living as Acts 2:42 says (quoted above).
The end of the verse says that “the days are evil”. Our culture provides much that can drain our time. Much of it is neutral, while other things are evil. We need to monitor this.
One day we will pass from this world and we will enter His kingdom. We want to live in such a manner that He says, “well done, thou good and faithful servant” Matthew 25:23.
Lord, help us to balance our lives. Help us to have the proper mix of work, family/friends, ministry and relaxation. Thank You that You fill us with Your joy and peace.