“The future is something which everyone reaches at the rate of 60 minutes an hour, whatever he does, whoever he is.”–C. S. Lewis.
I think I was about ten years old when I first saw The Terminator. I live out in the country and don’t have access to whatever movies or shows were popular then. My grandmother would bring home a stack of VHS rentals to keep me entertained. She did not know what the videos were about most of the time, but figured guns and robots were ideal for a young boy. I had no clue what I was watching. This amazing and terrifying story of an apocalyptic future ruled by time-traveling robots unfolded into new areas of my brain. After that, it hooked me on the concept of time travel. As an adult, I still love the idea, overused as it may be; it opens the door to nearly unlimited and shifting storylines. Lately, however, what has caught my attention about the concept is just how different it is from the reality in which we live.
We Are Finite
Ecclesiastes 3:1: “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.”
One of the fantastic things about the concept of time travel is that all time is available to us. Want to go back in time and chew out your boss and then go forward in time to see what the consequences are? Not a problem. I wish you knew how life would have turned out if you had stayed with your high school or college sweetheart. Easy. I wish you had spent more time with your kids. Please press the button, and it’s done. Now contrast this with how time works.
You and I have this very moment, and then it’s gone. That’s it. We have no control over the past and very little control over the future. We are bound to bodies and a world that is diminishing. As humans and men, we have always placed value in rare things, yet in the last few generations, we have a frivolous view of our brief and allotted time.
A Man Values His Time
“Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of.”–Ben Franklin.
The value of our time equates to the value we place in our lives; the two are tied together. Yet, our world of ease often leads to wasting time. We have unknowingly adopted the aristocratic Victorian view of happiness. That they derive it from fleeting pleasures and comfort. However, as men, we were made to work and grow, and the purposeful investment of our time strongly correlates to our quality of life.
Psalm 90:12: “So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.”
Whenever I think about this topic, my mind goes to the countless hours spent on social media. The weeks I have lived in front of the television, being entertained by the fictional lives of others. Someone once said, “Time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time,” though I don’t believe I agree with that statement. Of course, there is a prudent use of our time, which includes taking it easy, but I have found that unscheduled time is more often squandered than not.
Embracing the Value of Time
Much of our wasted moments stem from the belief that we (and thus our time) are not that valuable. We cannot make a difference in our small window of time with our small sphere of influence. We are making a difference, regardless. To bring it back around, each of us experiences a constant butterfly effect — geeks, you know what I’m talking about! Everything we do matters. A frivolous view of time steals from our legacy and robs us of the manful life we are called to live. Though our names may never make it into a history book, generations to follow will be moved by our actions.
Uncommen Questions:
- Do you think you waste time in areas of your life?
- Does it glorify God?
- Does the Kingdom grow?
Uncommen Challenge
Sometimes we need to unplug and refuel, and then sometimes we need to be about the Father’s business. Pray for wisdom to know the difference.
Ever wonder what “-“ means? I have heard it taught before, but it came up in our Men’s prayer breakfast today. Down the road on your epitaph somewhere it will read birth and death…19XX-20XX. Truly the significant part lies in that little dash. How did you spend yours? I know I can say I wasted a good chunk of it chasing the things of this world. Thankfully, I have accepted Christ and have been forgiven of some of those fruitless pursuits. Nevertheless, there are several moments each and everyday (even as an experienced disciple of the Lord) that choices are made and time is spent on something selfish and not sinful. I was told once, “One of the marks of a mature Christian is to be able to discern what is best from what is good, not just what is right or wrong.” The challenge for every man is to examine how that time is spent. In the business world it’s called opportunity cost. I can’t sit and watch television for several hours a week and spend that same time engaging with my wife or children. It’s it wrong to watch TV? No, it isn’t exactly (though I am not a fan) but it it better to have watched the latest show, sport or news or invest in your relationship with your wife, pour into your children or dig deeper into God’s Word. It is a convicting thought when you examine your daily choices. It is a manfully done decision when you commit to do something about it! Would your sons and daughters say you spent your time with them well? Do you take the time to pray with your wife? Does she think she’s worth your precious and irreplaceable time. It ALL belongs to Him anyway. Did you spend it well good and faithful servant. So I challenge all the men who come across this post with this, examine your time and choice and see if they align with what a Man of God looks like. Keep going, you never know what’s going to make it in that little – .
Stand firm….the world is desperate for Uncommen men to rise up in such a time as this.
Grace and Peace
Andrew
Andrew, thank you for that reply. Those are the kinds of comments that really benefit our audience.
Thank you for sharing. Very well said Andrew!
Love this! This is so true and something I needed to hear. “Unscheduled time is more often squandered than not”.
Duey, Thank you for the reply. It’s something we all need to hear.