Making the Most of Your Time

I used to hate springing forward and love falling back, but at this point in my life, I wish they would just leave time alone. I think it all started when we had kids. Kids do not understand the concept of an extra hour of sleep when you fall back, and if anyone needs an extra hour of sleep, it is new parents.

All that got me to thinking about Ephesians 5:15-16 which says, “Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.” I do not think we really gain or lose an hour. They seem to balance each other out. But do we lose time when we act unwisely in the use of it? I think the text is saying the world we live in has a lot of sinful things going on, and we need to be wise in how we live in it by using our time to glorify God.

What might that look like in my life? We want to worship. That should be our priority, but I understand we cannot worship all the time. The Bible teaches us to work. How do I make the most of my time at work? Live the Bible out in front of others. Not in a “I am better than you” way, but there are certain things you will and will not do and the reason behind that is because God teaches that in His word (1 Peter 3:15). Use some of your free time to make a visit, call, or send a card. Put your phone down and pick up your Bible. During family time turn the movie off and go visit the hospital or nursing home or have a devotional. When you are riding in your car, listen to and sing songs of praise instead of having your blood pressure rise listening to talk radio. Again, I think the main point is use your time in a world full of sin to be salt and light for Jesus. How can you make the most of your time for Jesus?

Dressing Up

Halloween is just around the corner. If my memory serves me right, I was He-man one year. It seems like I had one of those plastic masks with eyes cut out and with the elastic to hold it on. In He-man’s case I could raise my sword and transform from a wimpy eight-year-old to a man of muscles. But it was only pretend. I did not have a real sword, and I could not pick up anything that I could not pick up before I put the mask on. I think it is fine for kids to make believe or pretend to be someone they are not, but for adults it can become a problem.

In fact, the Bible calls this hypocrisy and condemns it (Matthew 23:27-28). In my understanding of the word, it refers to an actor who plays different roles and will change his mask to indicate a different role. So he might play a good guy with one mask on and a bad guy with a different mask on in the same play. I believe what the Bible is condemning is the living of a sinful life but pretending to be a righteous person when it benefits you. Some examples might be someone who cheats on his taxes but teaches a Bible class on obeying the government or a woman who condemns another for gossip when she is a gossip herself.

You might be concerned that you are a hypocrite, and the reality is that we have all probably been one before. I think what the Bible is condemning is living a life contrary to what we claim to be. It is claiming to follow Jesus on Sunday but living a life that does not back that up. Does that mean every time we sin we are a hypocrite? Anytime we sin we are being hypocritical. We want to deal with that sin as quickly as possible so we do not become a hypocrite. I think what I am saying is that, yes we all sin, but do not put up a mail box in that sin and live there.

Watching Worship

What do you like to watch? Maybe you enjoy going to a sporting event, a play, or a concert. Maybe you enjoy watching T.V. or a parade. A lot of our world has turned into spectators. Has our worship turned into a spectator sport? I ask that question because some people, it seems, come to watch worship. When opportunities come about to participate, they simply pass and watch someone else. Then they might throw their five dollars in the plate and move to the next event.

Let’s talk about one of the most obvious examples of this mentality. Singing is one of those things that we justify not doing because we do not have a “pretty” voice. We are blessed with some good song leaders; I will just throw my five dollars in, and they can sing for me. Not singing is in direct violation of God’s commandments (Colossians 3:16; Ephesians 5:19). Justifying not singing because of the “sound” of your voice just does not fly. If God were not pleased with the way your voice sounds, He could have made it another way.

Does watching someone cook or eat feed us? Is my belly any less empty after watching a cooking show? You know the answer. How can I feed my spiritual appetite by just being a spectator? I need to be active in Bible class by being prepared as much as possible before coming to class and by actively participating in class. The sermon should be the same way. I want to be actively involved in the lesson by taking notes or opening my Bible and reading along. This might help some who struggle to stay awake.

We could talk about the Lord’s Supper and really thinking about what Jesus has done for us and about our relationship to Him instead of figuring out what we are eating for lunch. In prayer, we need to be focused on what is being said and if we are in agreement. Worship is not a spectator sport. I hope you will come participate with us at the next opportunity.