Word of the Week: Time

Saturday night we set our clocks up one hour to begin the semi-annual debate about Daylight Saving Time.

Some like it. Others loathe it.

President Harry Truman called it “a monstrosity in time keeping.”

Benjamin Franklin justified Daylight Saving Time as having “the pure light of the sun for nothing,” as opposed to burning expensive candles.

“An extra yawn one morning in the springtime, an extra snooze one night in autumn,” opined Winston Churchill. “We borrow an hour one night in April and pay it back with golden interest 5 months later.”

Then one sage quipped, “Daylight saving time: Only the government would believe that you could cut a foot off the top of a blanket, sew it to the bottom, and have a longer blanket.”

Regardless, of your opinion, it’s probably here to stay. More importantly, we should we conscious of the stewardship of time. The Bible exhorts us to “redeem the time” (Eph 5:16). This means to make the most of our time. To make the best use of it. To take advantage of it. Literally, it speaks to the “buying up of an opportunity.”

Time and opportunity go together. When we make the best use of our time, we’re alert to opportunities to do good. To say a kind word. To extend a helping hand. To listen to a troubled friend. To play with a child. To engage in meaningful conversation with our spouse. To share our faith. To enjoy a sunset. To pray. To seek communion with God.

Sadly in our rushed world we too often find ourselves repeating the over worn and stale excuse, “I don’t have time.” Yet, time is the one thing that we all share in common. Male and female. Rich and poor. Young and old.

We have a responsibility to be good stewards of our time. To use it wisely. Profitably. Productively. Benjamin Franklin expressed it this way: “Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that’s the stuff life is made of.”

We can begin today by saying, “this is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it” (Ps 118:24). Don’t waste time grumbling, griping, or fussing. Take time to rejoice in today’s blessings.

As we grow older, we’re reminded that our time on earth is quickly diminishing. According to latest statistics, life expectancy for an average human being in the United States is currently at 78.4 years.

What if you compared 78.4 years to a 24 hour day? According to the formula each hour is represented by 3.267 year of life. What time is it in your life?

If you are 10 years old, it’s 3 AM
If you are 20 years old, it’s 6:24 AM
If you are 30 year years old, it’s 9:00 AM
If you are 40 years old, it’s past noon for you.
If you are 50 years old, it’s 3:18 PM
If you are 60 years old, it’s 6:22 PM

What time is it in your life? You do the math! This illustration makes real the Psalmist’s exhortation, “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” (Ps 90:1). In other words time is fleeting. And our lives are quickly fading with each passing day.

The advice of the late motivational speaker, Earl Nightingale, is worth heeding. “Learn to enjoy every minute of your life. Be happy now. Don’t wait for something outside of yourself to make you happy in the future. Think how really precious is the time you have to spend, whether it’s at work or with your family. Every minute should be enjoyed and savored.”

–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman