Known by all, but not always part of our awareness is the fact that ‘time and tide wait for no man’. As I pondered this truth, I got to thinking about this crazy, mixed up world we live in. There are so many things that steal our attention, tasks to be done. social activities, meetings to attend and the list goes on and on. Yet, we find so little time to do them in. And this time, which is divided into hours, minutes and seconds is kept track of by the little instrument we wear on our wrists, or by the numbers displayed on our mobile phones or by the clock on the wall. Keeping track of time is essential for perceiving what’s happening around us and responding to it.

We set alarm clocks next to our bed; we place reminders in our diaries and even ask friends to remind us of appointments, just in case we forget. Important to note is that that time moves in only one direction – forward. This implies that time gone by is lost forever and will never be available to us again. The apostle Paul advices us to redeem or make the best of time, because once it passes us by it’s gone forever (Eph 5:16).

The question that comes to mind is how? How do I make the best of time? Many people are so rushed and enslaved to a “9 to 5” routine; getting ready for work in the morning; children being helped to dress and dropped off at school; city dwellers have to meet the challenge of busy highways and so the list goes on and on. So how, Paul, do we do this in our postmodern world which is so different to yours?

Well, I have learned a few things that can definitely add quality to our lives. One of our major problems is that we’ve become so busy making a living that we forget about making a life. Yes, we are often in such a hurry that we do not value the precious gift of time that God has given us.

 
We need to slow down. Imagine driving through a beautiful mountain range with the most amazing scenery at high speed, with your radio’s volume turned up. Sadly, you miss the beauty of God’s creation. Now imagine just going slower, even walking – you hear the birds singing; hear the water in the stream flowing over rocks; you breath in the fresh clean unpolluted air. How much more meaningful this would be . Slowing down brings meaning to how you spend your time, whether you’re walking next to the ocean, spending time with a loved one, playing the piano, or even working on an assignment. This is but one way of making most of our time.

Even better still would be if we could slow down the morning rush which starts at home. Set your alarm to wake you a little earlier and before doing anything else, just slow down and spend some time reading God’s word and talking to him in prayer. This is the recipe that will order your time in such a way that God has time to bless you. Yes, give some of your time to God. He will reward you in an unprecedented way.

Enjoy the time God has given you.