Partly translated from the article by Lirio in the Holy Spirit Monthly, June 2018, Issue 489, pp. 70-71.
Today, people become more and more dependent on their cellphones. Do you spend a lot of time on the cellphone? Have you ever thought how your time passed by? Everyone has 24 hours in a day. So how do we grasp hold of the limited time and make the best out of the available time? Let’s see what the Bible says.
Observe the Sabbath
Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. (Ex 20:8)
Sabbath is a blessed day (Isa 58:13-14), so we should make time to attend church services. Most people are very busy; and normally their schedule is very packed. Yet God created everything and on the seventh day He rested from all His work. He hallowed it as the Sabbath day because God knows that man needs to rest. Therefore, we should use our break time to draw nearer to God, so that our fleshly and spiritual strength can be renewed.
Be good stewards of God
As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. (1 Pet 4:10)
We need to grasp the order in which matters are handled. We should plan our time to do important matters except for urgent matters that need immediate attention. Those important matters include our studies, work and family. Additionally, as a Christian, your faith and church work should also be included in the important list because we are accountable to the Lord Jesus in the future.
Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside
Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. (Col 4:5)
We need to be mindful when we interact with non-believing friends to avoid being influenced by bad behaviors or habits, and to avoid doing things that are contrary to the teachings of the Bible. Also, we need to take note of the time spent on networking; and whether we have the opportunity to evangelize to our friends.
Understand the will of the Lord
See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. (Eph 5:15-17)
We need to develop a fixed habit of reading the Bible and praying. If we are close to God, we will be able to know and understand God’s will. In addition, our sensitivity towards sin will increase, thus we will not be easily affected by others and will not easily fall into temptation. The best example is that our Lord Jesus would often withdraw into the wilderness or go out to the mountain to pray (Lk 5:16, 6:12).
Do not worry about tomorrow
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. (Mt 6:34)
When there are many things to do and they have to completed within a certain time frame, pressures and worries will often increase. The Lord Jesus taught us not to worry about tomorrow. When we have tried our best to do our daily tasks but still could not complete or do the tasks, we need to entrust to the Lord. I believe that the Lord will grant us wisdom to deal with them.
Some people have the innate ability to work fast, while others are naturally slow. If each of us can make good use of our gifts in the use of time, I believe it will be more efficient. In addition, Ecc 9:11 mentions,
I returned and saw under the sun that—
The race is not to the swift,
Nor the battle to the strong,
Nor bread to the wise,
Nor riches to men of understanding,
Nor favor to men of skill;
But time and chance happen to them all.
If we can control the time spend on the cellphone and strive to do our part, I believe that if it is worthy, God will give us good opportunities at the most appropriate time.
We ask that God bestows us with wisdom to count our days, to do the most appropriate time planning, and to be the master of time (Ps 90:12).