LSEM > Devotions > It’s Time

It’s Time

  • April 2, 2021
  • Posted by: Carolyn Mahal
  • Category: Devotions
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“So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” – Psalm 90:22

Time management is a critically important skill. In most industries, the effective management of time is a valuable commodity. It can be the difference between success and failure in many situations.

A great example of the importance of managing time can be found in sports. Think about a football game. One of the goals many teams will have is for their offense to go on a long scoring drive. Fans love it when the quarterback throws a deep pass that is caught for a quick touchdown. However, coaches and players prefer the long drive that eats up six or seven minutes on the clock because it allows their team to not only score points, but it takes away time for their opponent to score themselves. Time management is most on display at the end of the halves. As the clock winds down, teams will go into their “Two-Minute Offense,” a style of play designed to maximize their offensive output while using the least amount of time possible. It gets its name from the time of the game in which it is used; the last two minutes of each half. I understand the importance of getting those late scoring drives to help your team win, but I also find it a bit humorous. Why is it so important to move the ball quickly in the last two minutes of the half when everyone seems so nonchalant about it for the first twenty-eight?

The answer to that question is simple. Managing the clock does not matter until the time is almost used up. In early parts of a football game, you will see up to 40 seconds of game time lost between plays. At the end of the game, teams can run several plays in less than 40 seconds. It’s only at the moment when you don’t have enough time that conserving and maximizing it becomes important. That rings true in sports, but the same can also be said of our lives.

People often talk about their bucket lists; those things they want to see, do, and accomplish before they “kick the bucket.” Many of these items don’t get checked off the list when we’re in our 20’s, but by the time you reach 65 years of age, the urgency of completing these items increases greatly. This is due to the belief that many of us have that we have many years ahead of us. The average life expectancy in the United States in 2019 was 78.8 years. With that in the back of our minds, it’s easy to think that time isn’t a big deal because we still have lots of time left to accomplish those things we want to do.

Unfortunately, many of us learn that expectations aren’t promises and our realities aren’t always what we planned them to be. The Bible gives us several reminders that we don’t know how many days we have, so we should manage the time that God has given us to do what He has created us to do. Each day is a gift that has been given to us. What we choose to do with it is up to us. Will we give our best effort in all things or will we coast and allow things to just play out? Will we serve others or focus on ourselves? Will we share the rewards of God’s goodness with those in need, or will we concentrate on our own possessions and portfolio? These choices are ours to make and the impact of our decisions can be far-reaching. When it comes to the way we spend our time, let us seek out God’s will. Through His word, we will know His commands and discover our calling, so that every moment of our lives will be maximized to the benefit of many on earth and to the glory of God our Father. Through him, we can achieve the goals set out for us, filling the buckets of many before we kick our own on our way to the ultimate prize won for us by Jesus.

So what are you waiting for? The clock is ticking…

 

Devotion by Richard Schumacher

LSEM Director of Programs & Services