My son loves the toy Legos—little plastic pieces that snap together—like fish love water! One of his most interesting creations was called the “minute machine.” He explained that his contraption could drive around and find all the extra minutes, sweep them up, and save them for later. After hearing this description, I wished I had a “minute machine” of my own. What if I could redeem all the underutilized minutes, hours, and weeks in my life and use that time to serve God?
While the Bible encourages us to “make the most of every opportunity,” it also challenges us to see time as a God-given resource (Ephesians 5:16). Just like our money, talent, and energy, our time on earth has limits. We don’t know when God will promote us to heaven; we don’t know when Jesus will return. The days we have now are precious because each one gives us the opportunity to “determine what pleases the Lord” and to act on that knowledge (Ephesians 5:10).
Seizing the day spiritually includes being prepared to encounter evil and resistance to God’s message in the world. The Bible says the days are “evil” (Ephesians 5:16) and a quick glance at the news confirms this truth. Persecution was a challenge for believers in the early church, and it’s something many believers face today. Since we don’t know how long each of us will have to effectively proclaim the good news in our part of the world, we should aim to share the grace of Jesus Christ while we can.
Christian teacher and writer R. C. Sproul said, “Right now counts forever.” That’s why the Bible prompts us to “live wisely among those who are not believers” (Colossians 4:5). A Spirit-filled life poured out for the benefit of others ensures that we are making the most of every minute here on earth.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: 1 Samuel 25:1-42
More:
Read Genesis 1:14-19 to see how God made it possible for us to understand the passage of time. Look up Psalm 89:48 for some motivation to make every minute count.
Next:
Do you consider time as a resource to be used for your benefit or for God’s glory? Does using technology typically help or harm your time-management goals?
Gary Shultz on April 1, 2015 at 6:36 am
Agreed, a machine to collect minutes would be wonderful and your son is very perceptive to grasp that as a value at that age. To use our time efficiently for God’s will is a worthy discipline. I did have to smile when the question was posed about technology. It is the proverbial two edged sword. We’re doing tech now and we have all benefited greatly. I was a fifties kid, grew up on a farm; no phone, no TV, we finally got indoor plumbing, but we all made it. Technology is a gift, like medicine, and all the other things God has allowed us to use. I guess it’s like your theme of today, will we use it wisely as a part of our lives? Thanks
Tom Felten on April 1, 2015 at 9:25 am
As you described, Jen, the Holy Spirit will prompt and guide us to live in a way that honors God and allows us to “make the most of every opportunity.” As we begin each day submitting to His ways and seeking to be filled with Him, we can find we’re truly making the most of each minute!
Winn Collier on April 4, 2015 at 8:30 pm
Can you put me in line for one of these machines?