Making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. – Ephesians 5:16
The span from September 28 to December 31 is 94 days – a mere 2,256 hours. Just 94 days ago, it was June 26. Summer was underway, sunlight hours were long, and temperatures hot. It rained occasionally. How did you spend the last 94 days? Did you maximize your time? How will you make the most of the hours between now and the end of the year? If you get an average of eight hours of sleep, that consumes 752 hours. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average American works 8.5 hours each weekday and 5 hours and 24 minutes on weekend days. They may spend 28 minutes a day educating themselves (do you suppose that means reading their Bibles?) Household activities like cleaning, laundry, meal preparation and cleaning up take their share, and one can only guess at the amount of time that is spent on mobile devices. It was estimated to be 23 percent in 2010, but that has markedly increased.
The verse preceding the one for today tells you to be careful and to walk wisely. Then the Apostle Paul adds, “making the best use of the time.” Thomas Brooks, an English Puritan of the 17th century, wrote, “Time is a jewel with more worth than a world. Time is not yours to dispose of as you please; it is a glorious talent which man must be accountable for, as well as any other talent. Of all talents, time is the hardest well to improve.”
James 4:14 reminds you, “Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.” How you choose to use the gift of time God has given is up to you. Theologian Warren Wiersbe suggests, “Don’t live the rest of your life the way you used to live.” Use your time, your gifts, and your talent to glorify God and, with everything that you do, do it heartily as unto the Lord (Colossians 3:23). Someone said, “Life is too short for us to do everything we want to do; but it is long enough for us to do everything God wants us to do.” Invest it wisely.
Today’s Verse: Ephesians 5:16
making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: Ephesians 5:8-21
8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), 10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. 13 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,
“Awake, O sleeper,
and arise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”
15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
