Ephesians 5:15-17
“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”
“Life is what happens to you when you’re busy making other plans.” Allen Saunders
Tony Campolo once referred to a survey he did of 50 people over ninety-five years old, asking the question, “if you could live your life over, what would you do differently?” The overwhelming three responses rose above the others.
- I would reflect more
- I would risk more
- I would spend time on things that would have a lasting impact
The older I get, the more I understand the idea that the days are evil. Time doesn’t stand still or slow down for us. It’s rare that great things (or even mediocre things) are accomplished by coasting. But how we spend our time is not all about checking things off of our to do list either. In order to live a life that we don’t look back on in regret, we are encouraged in the passage above to:
- Be careful with our time
- Be intentional with our time
- Spend our time on what’s important
But how do we know what’s most important? When we busy ourselves with the things that God values, we can be sure that we are using our time to the fullest, and we will end our day and our days with no regret.
While using the HEAR method (see below) consider the following questions:
- What are ways, according to God’s word, that we should be using our time most wisely?
- What are some regrets you have as you look back on how you’ve spent your time so far?
- What are some changes you can make this week to use your time more wisely?
Highlight – what words or phrases jump out at you?
Explain – what does the passage mean?
Apply – how does the passage intersect with your life today?
Respond – how is God leading you to respond?
Jon Price, Associate Pastor