Recently my husband and I celebrated our 50th anniversary. It is amazing to reflect over the years of our lives and their many phases: the college days, the time in the Air Force, raising children, working, retiring for me, sweet daughters-in-law, grandchildren, and all the people we have met and places we have been. I remember older people saying when I was young “how time flies,” but also how it seemed to go so very slowly back then. Statista.com states that the average life expectancy for Americans born in 2018 is 77 for men and 81 for females, and they further explain that a century ago the average age was 51 and 55. When you look at these numbers, it is pretty convicting. We are living longer now, but are we using this extra time wisely? Job explains that our days are set and God knows every one of them. A man’s days are numbered. You know the number of his months. He cannot live longer than the time You have set (Job 14:5).
Therefore, as I consider my lifetime and the brevity of it, I am encouraged to use my time wisely. In Ecclesiastes 3:1, Solomon writes about time. There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heavens. As you list all the seasons of your own life and review them, look, too, at the implications for all of us as believers. In Luke 12: 17-21, Jesus explains the importance of keeping our priorities in line with God’s priorities while we are here on this earth.
And he (Jesus) told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I’ll say to myself, You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.’ But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”
Our world today emphasizes the importance of riches, but in God’s perspective, we should be rich toward God, investing in the kingdom of heaven. He should be Lord of our lives. His priorities should be our priorities. I am thankful for the many people from childhood to this present time who have invested their time in my life–my teachers in the church, pastors, choir directors, youth directors, Bible teachers, mentors, family, and friends. Most of all, I am thankful for my parents who faithfully taught me and displayed God’s love. What is the sphere of your influence? How can you demonstrate God’s love every day? Remember Matthew 6:25-27, 31-34, where Jesus urges us:
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can anyone of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? So do not worry, saying, “What shall we eat?” or “What shall we drink?” or “What shall we wear?” For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Dear Holy Father, show me every day how to use my time, talent, and treasure to create eternal treasure in heaven. Show me ways to serve You and spread Your Word and to love in Your name.
In Jesus’ holy name, Amen.
