Wednesday, January 26, 2022
A GIFT OF TIME!
James 4:14
14 Whereas ye know not what shall be
on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth
for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
Eph 5:15-16
15 See then that ye walk
circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
16 Redeeming the time,
because the days are evil.
Our English
language provides many meanings to the simple word “time.” It is a period of time in which
an action, process or condition exists or continues as in the sentence: “gone a
long time.” It can refer to a state of affairs such as “hard times.” And every
naughty child can tell you the meaning of “time-out.”
Time is life. It appears for a little while and
then it is gone. Paul urged the Ephesians to redeem the time. The word “redeeming”
is the Greek exagorazo which literally means “to buy up or to rescue from
loss.” Time spent doing one thing can’t ever be regained to do another thing.
That period of time is used up. If we are to rescue time from loss, then we
need to be more aware of how our time is spent.
My love
language,
and that of my wife, is primarily “quality time.” Our most enjoyable “times”
are spent on the front porch swing with a cup of coffee. We may talk for hours,
or we may say little or nothing to each other. We are not wasting time. We are
investing it in each other. When a visitor comes to spend time with me, I view
it and treasure it as an act of love. My visits to others are intended to share
love as well.
At my age I
have noticed
there are at least two groups of people who need loving gifts of time. One is
older people, and the other is children. Older people know they have little
time left. Many of them feel forgotten and cast aside. They understand and
appreciate your gift of time. Sit with one and listen as they recount stories
of times long past. Times remembered are times that can be enjoyed again and
again.
Children
don’t always feel very important to older people. They are surprised and pleased when we
spend some of our precious draining time to join them in their play, to sing
their songs and to listen to their dreams. Teens, once they overcome their
shock, seem truly pleased that we want to spend time with them.
John 4:9-10
9 Then saith the woman of
10 Jesus answered and said unto her,
If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to
drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living
water.
Today you
may have the opportunity
to give the gift of time. Don’t view it as an intrusion. It may be God’s
appointment.
Dear Lord, make me aware of those
who need a bit of my time. AMEN
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