Faithfulness with time!

People say that time is money, because time can be used to gain money. Just as we must be faithful with money, we must be faithful with our time. It is not good to waste time. We should "redeem the time" (Colossians 4:5; Ephesians 5:16). Sometimes it is worth spending more money on something so as to save time. For example, it costs more to fly across Romania than to take a train. Yet at times a Christian minister should fly so as to use his time to the maximum. In all decisions like this we should be guided by the wisdom which God gives us.

Laziness is a waste of time. It is not wrong to relax and rest at times, waiting on the Lord to renew our strength (Isaiah 40:31), but laziness and slackness is wickedness in the eyes of the Lord. We should always abound in the work of the Lord. 1 Corinthians 15:58 says, Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

The Book of Proverbs is full of warnings against laziness (e.g. Proverbs 6:6-11; 10:4; 12:11,14; 12:24, 27; 13:4; 14:23; 19:15). A lazy person is a rebel against God, and a fool. God requires that we make the most of our time for Him. Moses prayed, "Lord, teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." (Psalm 90:12).

Managing our time correctly involves a balance of things. Working constantly without taking time to listen to God can result in wasted time, because we might be building in vain things that the Lord is not wanting (Psalm 127:1,2). Sleeping in moderation is not wasted time, for God gives to His beloved even in sleep (Psalm 127:2). God has designed as with a need to sleep. Sometimes, however, we are called to deny our body's desire for sleep so we can watch and pray more (Matthew 26:41).

Balancing our use of time is important. We must take time for work, for study, for prayer, for praising God, for the Word of God, for church, for fellowship, for discipleship, for evangelism and for fulfilling any special callings we may have. We need also to take time for eating, for personal hygiene, for exercise, for cleaning, for time with our families and with our friends. Only the Holy Spirit can show us exactly how we should do it in our situation. The balance may change from time to time. There are different seasons, periods of preparation and education in our lives. The Lord has given us time for everything he wants us to do. And all of us only have 24 hours in the day. That is why we must seek to multiply our lives into the lives of others through discipleship.

Remain blessed