By sis Leong Mei Ji
There is a Time for Everything
God gives us the time to do what we are supposed to do. “To everything there's a season, a time for each purpose under heaven.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1). The wise writer makes a significant point that there is a time and place for everything in life. There is a season for everything. There is a time to be born and there is a time to die. There is a time to sow and there is a time to harvest and to replant. There are times when buildings are being built and there are times when they must be demolished. There are times for silence and there are times for talking. There is a time for war and a time for peace. There is a time for weeping and there is a time for laughter. There are times of great difficulties, but it will not always be this way. There are times of enjoyment but we know that life is also not full of good times only. Nothing in this life remains in its current state. Life is transitory. The circumstances of life are always changing and so there is a need for us to be ready for these changing occasions.
Allotted Time
God in his grace has given all of us the same amount of time, that is, 365 days a year, no less no more. Each of us is given 525,600 minutes each year. Everybody has all the time that there is. You and I have as much time as the apostles and you and I have as much time as our Lord Jesus Christ on earth. We have as much time as anybody.
Understand that time is precious
Time is an invaluable and precious resource because we cannot get wasted time back. People often think of money as their most precious resource. However, without time it is impossible to buy the things we need and want. In fact, time is far more valuable than money because we can use our time to generate income, but we cannot use money to purchase more time.
Appreciate the value of time
We need to appreciate the value and preciousness of time. In each day there are 86,400 seconds and every second is an invaluable and precious gift from God. Let us take a look at a clock or watch with a second hand on it and follow that hand as it ticks away one minute. Those 60 seconds are the way we measure time, and time is the very essence of our lives. We need to invest our seconds, minutes, hours, and days wisely, realizing that beyond our last second of time, lies eternity.
Jesus’ Ministry
Jesus set forth an example of how we ought to spend the time allotted to us. Jesus recognized that He had a short time on earth to do His Father’s will. Our Lord says in John 9:4, “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.” What does that mean? Jesus was simply saying that we must work the works of God while there is still time, before it is too late. We have to work while we have the opportunity to do that which is right because our ‘night time’ is going to come. Our life is going to end and when it ends that will be the end of all opportunities to do that which is right. Now is the time to obey and do the works of God. Jesus used His time well by giving Himself to the ministry of prayer (Mark 1:35). Most importantly Jesus used His time well by seeking the glory of God in everything He did. John 8:29 reads, “And He who sent me is with me; He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him.” Note that it had only been after 3 ½ years of ministry when Jesus Christ said, “I have finished the work thou hast given to me to do.” (John 17:4).