I Haven't Got Time

Time is very precious. It’s a commodity that can’t be replaced. Even though our time is important, we spend it in some very unproductive ways. It has been estimated that the average American over the course of a lifetime will spend . . .

• 6 months sitting at stoplights
• 7 months opening junk mail
• 1 year searching for misplaced objects
• 1.5 years trying to return phone calls and
• 4 years standing in line!

As Christians, we need God’s wisdom to differentiate between the activities that are wasting our time from those activities that are doing God’s will. The Apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians 5:15-16, “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.”

A phrase probably used even during the time of Paul, but certainly used today, is “I haven’t got time.” Because our lives are so full of places to be and things to do, it seems that we can’t do anything more. Certainly there are some activities to which we should say, “I haven’t got time.” However, if we tell God that we don’t have time to spend reading his Word, to pray, to worship, or to help others, then we are acting as unwise and foolish people.

As we examine how we spend our time, we should ask ourselves these two questions:

1. How much time am I spending with God in Bible reading and prayer?
2. How much time am I spending in service to others?

With God’s strength, we won’t say “I haven’t got time” when it involves spending time with God and serving others. In spending time with God and in serving, we accomplish what Paul encourages us to do, and that is to make the most of every opportunity.