December 17, 2021 Brethren Letter
Dear Brethren,
This time, like all times, is a very good one, if we but know what to do with it. -Ralph Waldo Emerson
That quote sure rings true, doesn’t it? My mother often said, “The older we get the faster time goes.” I sure can understand what she meant! As we realize, the measuring of time is the same for everyone. C.S. Lewis correctly stated, “The future is something which everyone reaches at the rate of sixty minutes an hour, whatever he does, whoever he is.” Since time is measured identically for all, the important thing we need to focus on is how we’re actually spending it through the day. Is it invested wisely or unwisely?
We are instructed in Ephesians 5:16 to be “redeeming [the Greek means to “rescue from loss”] the time, because the days are evil.” We are to rescue the time from loss, each and every day! Probably all of us feel (at one time or another), that we just don’t accomplish everything we would like to, that the day gets started and it’s over before we know it. Clearly, situations arise that are beyond our control, but sometimes we just haven’t planned our time wisely, plain and simple. We are admonished in the book of Ecclesiastes to apply ourselves wholeheartedly in each of our goals. “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might…” (Ecclesiastes 9:10).
If you had to give up time allotted for one activity, in order to devote that time to another activity, which would you choose? Would you give up time intended for God in prayer for the day, or would you give up something else of less importance? I tell you, Satan the Devil would be happy with your giving up your time spent with God on your knees. “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (I Peter 5:6-8).
Brethren, it’s important that we set the right priorities. God has promised us the Kingdom of God if we do. “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:33). Again, time is the same for everyone. It is twenty-four hours long. But, how we use our time spiritually will determine our future as well. I’m going to end with a short illustration written in ‘A Treasury of
Bible Illustrations.” It gives a good example of the importance of “TIME” and our need to use it WISELY.
Wealth of Time
If you had a bank that credited your account each morning with $86,400, that carried over no balance from day to day, and allowed you to keep no cash in your account, and every evening canceled whatever part of the amount you had failed to use during the day, what would you do? Draw out every cent, of course.
Well, you have such a bank, and its name is “Time.” Every morning it credits you with 86,400 seconds. Every night it rules off, as lost, whatever of this you have failed to invest to good purpose. It carries over no balances. It allows no overdrafts. Each day it opens a new account with you. Each night it burns the records of the day. If you fail to use the day’s deposits, the loss is yours. There is no going back. There is no drawing against tomorrow. You must live in the present—on today’s deposits. Invest it so as to get from it the utmost in health, happiness and success!
Please have a wonderful Sabbath, everyone!
Sincerely, Your Brother in Christ,
Gary Liebold