Time is the currency of our lives. It is quite possibly our most valuable resource. Once it’s been spent, we never get it back. In the busyness of our schedules and unending to-do lists, we easily overlook the value of time and the impact of how we spend it. So, what does the bible say about how we are to spend our time?
There are many passages and verses that talk about the importance of time, along with instructions for how to live our lives day to day. One example we will explore today comes from Ephesians 5:15-16. In it, Paul says this:
“Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk–not as unwise people but as wise– making the most of the time because the days are evil.”
I’m a practical kind of girl. I love a good 5 step process or a concrete takeaway that can be incorporated into my daily life. If I’m honest, a lot of the Bible, or at least how it is presented at times, seems very abstract. I often leave with more questions than answers. While that’s not always a bad thing, I want us to take these two verses and see if we can pull three practical ways to live them out in our everyday lives.
First, let’s look at what these verses are saying. Paul is instructing the Ephesians to pay attention and be careful with how they’re spending their time. He even tells them that time can be spent wisely or unwisely and encourages them to make the most of every moment.
I think if we were sitting around hanging out with Paul, he’d have a similar message for Christians today. With so much distracting our attention from eternal things, it’s easy to lose sight of what truly matters. There seems to be a constant stream of demands with work, family, friends, and maintaining all of it on a daily basis. Add in phones, computers, and TVs, and it’s no wonder we get to the end of our day wondering where in the world our time was spent.
Let’s look at three things that may help us “make the most of the time” and practically live out Ephesians 5:16.
1. Identify Your Priorities & Set Goals:
One way the Bible encourages Christians to use their time wisely is to cast a vision. We live with vision by identifying our priorities and setting realistic goals that make sense for our season. By partnering with God, we make sure our vision is rooted in Him. Our calling as Christians is to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” Setting a vision involves recognizing the overarching purpose and priorities for various aspects of life.
This intentional approach to setting vision not only provides a roadmap for navigating life but also fosters a sense of purpose and direction in accordance with God's will. Vision then informs how we spend our time. If a task or request isn’t in alignment with our vision, we can confidently turn down the opportunity. Ultimately, as we create a vision in alignment with biblical principles, we actively participate in making the most of the time, living out Ephesians 5:16.
2. Time Blocking & Planning
The easiest way to “pay attention” to how we’re spending our time is to know where all of it is going. Time blocking and planning are simple yet effective tools to make the most of each day. As a stay-at-home mom, I get how time blocking can seem irrelevant in certain circumstances. Maybe you are in a similar season of life where, at first mention, time blocking doesn’t seem like it would make a difference. I used to believe the same thing until I tried it. And let me tell you, I was wrong!
Using schedules to write out things we had going on during the week gave me what I like to call the skeleton for my week. The “skeleton” is made up of basic recurring events. In my case, back then, nap times, feeding times, church services we attended, bible study, and other regular outings. I also like to look ahead for the week and write in any appointments, practices, or meetings that may be coming up.
Just being able to look at this alone will give you an overview of where your time is going so that you can start to pay more attention to where you’re spending it. Next, you can think about all the things you’d like to get done during the week. These may include serving, volunteering, chores, rest, house projects, hobbies, spending time outside, or hanging out with a friend. When you time block you dedicate specific chunks of time to an event or activity. Don’t forget to write it down!
When we consistently time block, we no longer have to wonder where all our time is going. We have it all written down in front of us. Keep this simple and easy as you get started. Whether you use a blank piece of paper you find lying around the house or a fancy planner from the store, don’t let the details of getting started keep you from going for it. Time blocking is probably the easiest way for us to make the most out of every opportunity and manage our time wisely.
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3. Prioritize Time with God
This one may seem obvious, but it’s always worth repeating. Prioritizing intentional time with the Lord through prayer, studying, and reading the Bible is always the best way to make the most of our time. Learning and growing in relationship with Him equips us to better love and serve others. There have been times in my life when I’ve added time blocks for things like bible study, prayer walks, or just “being” to my schedule so that I see it visually laid out in my week. God is omnipresent, so we don’t have to go looking for Him in certain places. He’s everywhere all the time. His Spirit guides us continually. But doing something as simple as writing it into your week will help you prioritize spending intentional time with God daily.
We all prioritize our time and give it away to something. I often need to be reminded that time with God should be among the top priorities in my daily life. When we take time to renew our minds, we become more like Christ. When we have an accurate view of who God is, it gives us an accurate view of who we are. Both of these come from spending intentional time with God. And it’s okay if you need to plan for that in order to prioritize it in certain seasons.
When we learn to make the most of our time and steward it wisely, we can practically live out what Paul is saying here in Ephesians. Let’s commit to paying attention to where our time is going and how we’re spending it. Let’s decide to use it wisely. Let’s partner with God in redeeming the time we have here on earth before He calls us home. Fulfillment, joy, contentment, and peace are all words that come to mind when I think about living a life dedicated to walking with Jesus and spending my time on things that hold eternal weight.
May we all spend our time more wisely.
Photo Credit: Getty Images/BrianAJackson
