In The Time That You Gave Me

Today marks almost the half way point of 2025. Six months behind us. 181 Days. 4,344 hours. “Time Marches On,” as Tracy Lawrence sang in his 1996 hit song.

But there’s another song, less famous, but probably more poignant, and definitely with deeper spiritual meaning for Christians. Norma Jean and I were watching some Joey+Rory videos last night and were touched by the lyrics “In The Time That You Gave Me.”

Rory Feek and his late wife Joey were a country music duo from Middle Tennessee. They recorded this song on one of their albums. Joey also sang it with her co-writer, Bradley Walker, who has spent his life in a wheelchair due to muscular dystrophy.  Yet, he never expresses any self-pity or victimhood.

It’s a song that gave pause to reflection for a couple in their 77th and 78th year and soon to celebrate 57 years of marriage. It explores vital scriptural themes of faith, purpose, stewardship, accountability, duty, and the legacy we’re creating.

Here are the lyrics and a link to the video.

In the time that you gave me, did I give all I could give?
Did I love all I could love, did I live all I could live?
Was my faith in your grace strong enough to save me?
Did I do all I could do in the time that you gave me?

In the time that you gave me, did I face the devil down?
Did I make him turn away every time I stood my ground?
If today is the day you should decide to take me
Did I do all I could do in the time that you gave me?

Oh, and I’ll never know ’til it’s over
But I wanna fly on your shoulders
Might have strayed from the path
I might have gone a little crazy
I’d like to think I did you proud in the time that you gave me

Oh, and as the hourglass empties, well, it won’t even phase me
If I did all I could do in the time that you gave me
If I did all I could do in the time that you gave me

The lyrics reminds us to heed the apostle Paul’s injunction, “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil” (Eph. 5:15-16).

The Preacher reminds us to do what we can do while we can do it. “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going” (Eccl. 9:10).

“So teach us to number our days,” admonishes Moses, “that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Ps. 90:12).

Joey’s song and these verses probe the heart and prompt these questions:

• Do I appreciate the time God has given me?
• Have I used my time on earth with wisdom and purpose?
• Am I a good steward of my time?
• Does the use of my time honor God and reflect my values?
• Am I investing my time in nurturing valuable relationships?
• Is my time spent in meaningful activities or wasted with trivialities?
• Am I using my time for the spiritual disciplines of worship, ministry, fellowship and discipleship?
• How can I improve my time management to better use the time that God has given me?

If you’re like me these questions probably remind you of time wasted, time abused, and maybe even of times of sin and guilt. However, nothing can be done to change the past. Time worrying about past failures won’t make today better nor improve the next six months, or six years.

Today is the only day that I have in which I can do something useful. Profitable. Helpful. And meaningful.

The advice of Benjamin Franklin should strike a cord with all us. “Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that’s the stuff life is made of.”

–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman