Three Considerations Around Time

The author of the “Purpose Driven Life,” Rick Warren, has said, “Time is your most precious gift, because you only have a set amount of it.”

When you ponder this, you realize that this statement has a lot of truth. Not only is time limited, but it is also non retrievable. When it’s gone, it’s gone, never to be reused.

Reading the Scriptures, we discover that time is precious and must also be taken into perspective and used with a sense of priority.

1. The Preciousness of Time

God has given us time which is but a short segment of all eternity which is why it is so valuable. He created us with a sense of eternity in our hearts. We have no idea what God has in mind for all eternity.

He has made everything beautiful in its time.

He has also set eternity in the human heart;

Yet no one can fathom what God has

done from beginning to end.

Ecclesiastes 3:11

The more we recognize the value of such a limited resource as time, the more we’re challenged to count our days and use them wisely. As David declared, we gain wisdom when considering the days we’ve been given.

Teach us to number our days,

that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Psalm 90:12

In what ways do you acknowledge that

time is a precious and valuable resource?

2. A Perspective on Time

From a human perspective, time is largely a finite resource. However, from God’s perspective, time is defined quite differently. He sees time in the context of all eternity which only He can comprehend.

But do not forget this one thing, dear friends:

With the Lord a day is like a thousand years,

and a thousand years are like a day.

2 Peter 3:8

It’s very easy to see things through our human perspective, but that is only temporary and limited to our time on this earth. To God, that which is unseen to us is of utmost importance to Him. So, by faith, He asks us to focus on the eternal more than on our limited human perspective.

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen,

since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

2 Corinthians 4:18

How do you keep the eternal in your perspective

besides the finite perspective here on earth?

3. The Priority of Time

Choosing how we use our limited time becomes a priority in our lives. The better we understand God’s will for our lives, the wiser we become in selecting our priorities. Our goal needs to be to make the most of every opportunity. Unfortunately, evil forces around us want to keep us distracted from doing God’s will.

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise,

making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.

Ephesians 5:15-17

Our priorities in using our time must focus on His Kingdom's values and living our lives to please him. If we do this, then everything else falls in place. God has promised to provide all of our needs when our priorities align with His for our lives.

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness,

and all these things will be given to you as well.

Matthew 6:33

How do you align your priorities

with God’s priorities for your life?

Truly, each of us has been given the precious gift of time. Keeping His perspective and priorities before us will result in a life that maximizes the value of that gift. The result will be a life that is most fulfilling and pleasing to Him.