The Best Use Of Time

I don't know anybody today who isn't busy. Longer work hours, multi-tasking, juggling priorities and a never-ending calendar of events and obligations have made us yearn for more time to get things done. Just in case you thought retirement brings more free time, my father-in-law will tell you a completely different story.

In his letter to the Colossians, Paul instructs the believers there to walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of time (4:5). He also asked for them to pray that God would open doors for them to witness to others; to declare the mystery of Christ (4:3). Making the best use of time to impact others for the Kingdom of God is one of the keys to discipleship that produces Christ followers.

Our busyness doesn't excuse us from making disciples. Rather, it gives us even more opportunity to touch others. Every day, we encounter people struggling with life's difficulties who need encouragment. People who whether they realize it or not, have a God-sized hole in their hearts that can only be filled by Him. People who have the opportunity to see Christ-likeness modeled in front of their very eyes by those of us who claim his life-saving blood.

How we manage our time has never been more important. Time is a non-renewable and uncertain resource. We can't get it back. We can't create more. We have no idea how much we have to spend. But maintaining a Kingdom focus allows us to make the best use of time, because the days are evil (Ephesians 5:16).