He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.
Ecclesiastes 3:11
"I'm running out of time" or "I haven't got time for that now" are common phrases, that we use day in and day out without a second thought about what we just said. However we have just the same amount of time in each and every day, but it is how we use our time that counts.
There is a time for every action, and the wise person knows which action is appropriate for the designated time, but this is not the tension that creates a time crunch. We see the tension introduced in the Scripture above in these words, "He [God] has also set eternity in the hearts of men…" (Ecclesiastes 3:11a), here is the tension that creates a time crunch. Humans are constricted by time, but God has placed in us a sense of eternity, and our lot as humans is to live within time and crave eternity.
How do we live with this time crunch?
First, be reconciled to God who controls our eternity. This life is a shadow, and how we live today echoes into eternity. Will we live today with eternally as our delight, or will we live as mere robots going through the motions?
Second, follow Paul's command and "make the most of every opportunity…" (Ephesians 5:16). In the staying power of this passage Jonathan Edwards, pastor in the eighteenth century, wrote, "Resolved: Never to lose one moment of time, but to improve it in the most profitable way I possibly can."
Take time out to make a detailed account of how you spend your time for one week and record how much time you spend working, exercising, eating, sleeping, watching television, reading the Word, praying, or spending time with those you care about and love, etc.
Do you approach each day seeking to make the most of your time on earth?
What would your calendar look like, if you redeemed the time?
How can you continue to improve your use of time?
What would you increase?
What would you decrease?
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