26 Mar Don’t Waste Your Time
Over the past week I have been struggling with all this extra time and what it means or should look like for us as Christians.
I have been wrestling with the question, how do we not waste the time that God has given to us and use this time for our good and His glory?
Before COVID-19 took place, I talked with people about our life being so busy with the kids’ sports, music, church life, work, etc. Often our lives become just a conversation of what is taking place next on the calendar or how we are going to coordinate our schedule to get everything in. I jokingly said to Brad two weeks ago with excitement in my voice, I hope that life starts to slow down. “Think about it, just the four of us, not running from one place to another but having intentional time at home.” Well I got my wish, but now what?
Months ago, I picked up the book 50 People Every Christian Should Know by Warren W. Wiersbe. The book’s description captivated me. “We all need inspiration to lead lives that honour God. When our faith is weak, or the pressures of the world seem overwhelming, remember that great men and women of the past can inspire us to renewed strength and purpose. Our spiritual struggles are not new, and the stories of those who have gone before can help lead the way to our own victories.”
I have to be honest. This book ended up just packed away on a bookshelf, never to be thought of again.
I personally have felt convicted over the past few months regarding how Netflix or Disney+ are going to increase my knowledge of God. Is it going to fill my mind with anything God honoring? Is there anything beneficial to me from binge watching a show? I don’t think so. So, to the bookshelf I went in search of something that would be an encouragement but not too difficult to work through. For the past week and a half, Brad and I have been working through the book, 50 People Every Christian Should Know. Each day we have been focusing on one Christian who walked the faith before us and discussing with our children how each Christian impacted our faith today. It has created a lot of interesting dialogue with our kids about predestination, election, puritans, church history, and the list goes on. I’m thankful for the time that God has given to us to spend with our family. I’ve learned about Katherine von Bora, Samuel Rutherford, Matthew Henry, and Jonathan Edwards, just to name a few. I’ve been reminded that God uses ordinary people to do extra ordinary things for His kingdom.
My encouragement would be to not waste the time that God has given you. Take your eyes off of the news and social media and use your time wisely. Take the time to search for giants of the faith, more verses on God’s sovereignty, whatever it is for you and your family. I know that I don’t want to look back on any of my life and regret it. Each day is a precious gift from God, but we need to not live in fear as Matthew 6:25-26 encourages “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?”
Our heavenly father loves us, He cares for us deeply, He is still seated on the throne and none of this surprise Him or is outside of his control. He has given you this time, now the choice is yours, what will you do with it?
