Time Well Spent

Scripture Reading Psalm 90:4-12

How many times have you been working, sometimes feverishly, under a deadline and the hands on the clock or watch seems to be spinning, when at other times they seem to barely move. Years ago I purchased a used pocket watch. The watch was made in 1860 in England, so at that time it would have been about 140 years old. Needless to say it had some issues. The issue was that it was counting 50 second minutes in place of 60 second ones. Now ten seconds lost seems negligible, however, at the end of the hour, the watch was quite off. The situation describes a lot of times how we experience life and what we take time to notice and what we don't. Ten seconds lost seems so minuscule until we need that extra time. When every second counts, when we need all the time to squeeze in we can get, when you wished you had more time, when you wished that clock "moved" more slowly...then we appreciate all the time we do have and the filling of that time with what is profitable and not what is wasted.

We waste so much time in life. I am no exception, I may even be the official representative. God does not desire for us to waste our time. Does that mean that we cannot enjoy or be relaxed? No, as everything, there is moderation for rest as there is for work. However, I would say that we as Christians would all agree that there will never be quite enough time when it comes to knowing Who God is, What His Word says, and How it relates to our lives, therefore we cannot afford to be idle.

The writer of this Psalm, Moses, gives an excellent discourse in the passage for this time. Seven verses in this passage tells us that mankind has enmity with God and He is angry with them for sins committed, and its by His mercy we are all not already finished off. But in verse 9, Moses caps it all by a simple reminder to himself and us, that in all the time that man has, that we should survey the span of our life and see what is really important--To Apply Our Hearts To Wisdom.

How many people have you and I encountered that somehow knew that their lives would be long lived and that if there would be any notice of God, it would come at the end of life, after the body was too old and feeble to "enjoy" sin any longer. We go so long and experience so much in life yet we do not seem to take time for God. That is so ironic, but its true. The problem with the worldly reasoning of "making our peace," or, "getting religion" right at the end mostly fails unless God intervenes. The heart of man in not naturally inclined towards God in the first place, and after a life of rejection its very hard for that heart to even want what they have long forgotten. Its sort of like trying to start a car on a AA Battery, when what is needed is a stronger battery.

That is why Moses wanted us to know that time is short, so we would be infinitely wise to learn and practice what God says. Many Christians however, seem to object to the pursuit of knowing God. Some excuses are,

• I have no time
• The Bible is too hard for me to learn and understand
  
• I learn what I need at church, that's enough
• I don't want to be a fanatic
• There will be plenty of time for me to grow into this theology stuff

I really don't think a true believer intentionally shuts out God, but nonetheless they do it by making excuses for something that they know will change what they have been comfortable with.

Let's look at some of the definite benefits that come with taking time to know God,

• Knowledge of His Character
• Understanding of how He chooses to work in lives
• A relief from stresses of life
• A sure hope that transcends this world
  
• Knowledge of His Word
• Share His thoughts and ideas
  
• Share His Heart
  

These are but a few. The real reason we should want to spend time with God is to become more like Christ. We see enough of how the world acts. We as believers are called out to stand out, not in stark madness and weird behavior, but in kind example and a lifestyle that gives man a desire to know for themselves what is inwardly different about you.

How is this time well spent accomplished?

• Reevaluating what time I spend and how I spend it, is it really going to count in eternity?
• Turning off distracting elements and being alone with God
• Prayerful desire to hear His voice as you read and study His Word
• A deeper prayer life (one that goes beyond the basics and speaks heart to heart)
• An outward show of difference (genuine not flashy)
• Sincere desire to do what God says and encourage others to follow Him

How much of your time is "given" to God? Consider, in the end, whenever that is, did that college football score really matter? Did the reason for missing church to go to another function really hold its value? Did your desire to know God on the surface really suffice when everything looks bad in life? There are more sobering questions to ask, but we need to understand the all importance of knowing who God is and preparing us for Eternity.

Wisdom is the one thing that man needs most but has the least of. King Solomon saw its need so much that it was what he asked for when God presented Him with a one request blank check. That should teach us how important this is. Today is the training ground for tomorrow, and tomorrow for Eternity. Just as one who runs a race does not wait the night before to practice to see if he or she can do it, we also must remember to "redeem" the time, make the most of it. Life has a dead line. Are you finding the hands of the clock spinning out of control, wishing they would stop? We can't stop the progress of time, but we can use it. Lets use it this week to find out more about Jesus.

Father, help me to not neglect the most important element of my life, You. Put within me a devout desire to read Your Word, devote more time to Prayer, and have a better desire to spend time with You. Thank you that you are not a myth or figment of some clever invention, and that You are interested in me. Thank you for letting me come to you with faults, sins, joys, victories, and all the rest. Thank you that You hear me and that you have promised to be with me and give me a Heavenly home. As you have done so much for me, help me to devote myself so much more to you. In your name, Amen.

Send this to a friend, and remember to keep your eyes upon the skies, Jesus is coming soon.