There are only 24 hours that exist in the course of a day. That would be 168 hours per week and 8,760 hours per year. Of this time that has been allotted to us how much of it do we use for God and how much do we waste away on other activities? In 2017 the average American adult used in the course of a month 185 hours for television, 35 hours on their phone, and 27 hours using the internet. The same adult only averages roughly 7 hours per month for anything related to God.
Our problem is not a lack of time, but a lack of making a priority for God. There is so much that we make priority for which comes at an exclusion of this relationship to the point that we push it back as if it is of the least of our priorities. When we are speaking of God who created us out of love it is mind boggling that people could be so nonchalant at such a reality. Everything which exists around us is wasting away, but God is the one reality which remains tried and true.
Our Epistle reminds: “See how you walk circumspectly, not as unwise, but as wise; redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” Indeed there is a necessity for us to redeem that time that has been set before us. If we continue to not make priority for God then we will continue to put other things before Him. It is true that the world in which we live is a busy place, but despite this busyness God must be a first and foremost priority.
Verse 18 of our Epistle specifically calls to mind those who make overuse concerning drink, of them it was said: “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is luxury: but be ye filled with the Holy Spirit.” Therefore, we should practice temperance and moderation in all that we do. If we think about the over abundance of our time which is wasted away we can see our failure to make God a priority. Wherever overabundance is practiced we engage in something to point that it holds us enslaved. This can be true of drink, food, and our use of time among many other things.
In all reality our first and foremost relationship ought to be God and from this relationship everything else should flow. In the vein of stewardship we are reminded of giving the first ten percent unto God. Do we give the first ten percent unto God when it pertains to the use of our time? If we were to devise a graph chronicling our use of time how small would our segment attributed to God be compared to the others?
In our Gospel the ruler who had a sick son came to place his trust in Christ. He came to Him with faith and in return his son came to be healed. So too we are given such a wondrous gift in the faith that we profess, but we so often rush by this great gift instead of stopping like this ruler and praying. No matter how busy that we are there is enough time for us to pray and build up a relationship with God, but we first must make it a priority and continue to foster this life giving reality no matter the excuse that may give rise in our life. No matter how challenging or difficult it may prove to be we must continue with a spirit of faith. No matter how inconvenient or boring that it may seem to be at times we must continue with a spirit of faith.
With a spirit of faith may devote our time and life unto Christ. From relationship may everything else flow to the point that we come to mold and order our life after His.
