Maybe we should be less concerned with making resolutions and more concerned with simply how we live.
One of my favorite quotes on “time” comes from Henry David Thoreau’s book Walden. In the first chapter on “Economy,” he offers an extreme, but hard look at the way in which people live. He proposes that man can be his own “slave-driver” and often spends his time on fruitless activities. And then he says:
“As if you could kill time without injuring eternity.”I certainly don’t agree with all of Thoreau’s views (especially his Transcendental ones), but he does make some honest conclusions about the way man can waste his time.
At some time or another, I think we are all guilty of “killing time.” We don’t usually say it that way, though. Instead, we say, “I just need to kick-back,” or “I need some TV time.”
I’m guilty too and will confess to being completely hooked on BBC’s Downton Abbey. Although we all need some down time every now and then, the temptation can become to fill all our spare hours with distractions that steal our time instead of help us to redeem it.
Remember, time isn’t something that belongs to us or something we are entitled to. It is a God-given privilege, and as such, we have an obligation to be good stewards of it.
Ephesians 5:15-17 makes clear that God cares about how we spend our time.
“Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” (NASB)As one of my friends reminded me, every moment of time is a gift. We aren’t promised the next week, day, minute, or second. Are we throwing away our time on things and activities that won’t last? Are our choices injuring or impacting eternity?
A new year has just started. My prayer is that we all live it with eternity in mind.
