You're Not Wishing Your Life Away, Are You?

Dear Faith Family,

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil, (Ephesians 5:15-16).

His name was Claude, a patient, part-time co-worker in the woodworking shop at Bagnal Builders Construction Company.  He was being constructive with his remaining days 

I, on the other hand, was a young buck, less than patient, eager to move on to the next thing.  Today it strikes me as a form of anxiety – that looking beyond the moment with a certain bit of current discontent.  True, our lives are some sort of progression.  But, when what’s next steals today’s value, anxiety can take root. 

It was one of those days.  Quittin’ time was screaming for my attention.  In a careless moment the words fell out: “I can’t wait until 4:00.”  The words I heard next demanded my attention.  I heard Claude ask: “You’re not wishing your life away, are you?” 

Wishing our lives away comes in a variety of flavors: “I’m so ready for this week to be over!” or “I’m so excited to start a new year, it can’t be worse than this past year.” or “I can’t wait until I graduate, I can’t wait for this driver to get out of my way, I can’t wait for this person to figure out how to use their debit card so that I can get on with the people I’ve got to see and the places I’ve got to go!” 

There’s not something inherently wrong with looking forward to what’s to come.  (I mean, seeing Jesus face to face – now that’s something to look forward to!)  But have we given what’s to come the authority to steal today’s value? 

What about today?  What about the minutes and the hours that we get to steward today?  Are these present moments any less valuable than some potential future moment?  Here’s the point: the time entrusted to you is valuable.  And that value is based on nothing less than fact that the time given to you is a gift from God!  Today is a gift from God! 

The secret to not wishing our lives away is to value what God has entrusted to us today.  To make the most of today, each moment.  To invest today in some young buck (or doe) who needs to be transforming by the renewing of his / her mind.  Maybe we ought to be asking: “God, why did you give me this hour?”   

Learning to make the best use of the time,

Pastor Karl