Making the Most of Every Moment
Do you ever wish there were more hours in a day? If so, I’m right there with you, and so are countless others, as time is something we all seem to want more of. Because of this, we work hard at scheduling and multitasking. While there’s nothing inherently wrong, and even a lot right with this, the truth is we don’t, nor will we ever own time. Instead, time belongs to God. And because time belongs to Him, He requires us to use time—the time He’s granted us, wisely, by making the most of every moment to honor Him and to serve and love others well
The Bible Speaks to Time
Through the Bible, we understand time is a gift to be stewarded purposely, used responsibly and allocated wisely.
Additionally, the Bible teaches, “There is a season (a time appointed) for everything and a time for every delight and event or purpose under heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1 AMP). By this we know that nothing in our lives or in the world around us is the result of cosmic chance. Instead, every occurrence, both personally and globally has been predetermined by God who is sovereign over all and makes “everything beautiful in its time” (Ecclesiastes 3:11 ESV).
And finally, the Bible encourages wise use of time by “making the most of every opportunity” (Eph 5:15), and in the way we act with unbelievers (Colossians 4:5).
Chronos and Kairos
In his book “Fifty-Seven Words That Changed the World,” Darrell Johnson breaks down the meaning of two Greek words describing time: kairos and chronos. Kairos, he explains, is a unique moment of time in alignment with God’s purposes, which he refers to as “opportunity time.” Chronos, on the other hand, describes a measurement of time. This type of time Johnson calls “tick-tock” as it is measured by clocks and calendars. While we live in the realm of both “tick-tock” and “opportunity” time, I believe it’s critical to determine which time to lean into on a daily, moment-by-moment basis. Committing to do this lessens the potential of lost opportunities and feelings of regret.
The Better Choice
The Gospels include a story regarding two sisters, Martha and Mary, who hosted a dinner gathering that Jesus attended. If you’ve ever hosted, then you understand it is a labor of love and time. As the story goes, Mary steps away from her hosting duties to sit with Jesus and listen to His teachings, while Martha continues working in the kitchen. Eventually resentment set in, and Martha felt slighted that she was hosting solo, while her sister sat idly at Jesus’ feet. And she tells Jesus as much, “Lord, doesn't it bother you that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself?” (Luke 9:41 CEV).
But rather than defending Martha, Jesus instead spoke to her saying, “Martha, Martha! You are [concerned] about so many things, but only one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen what is best” (Luke 9:42 CEV).
You see, while Martha was using her time admirably by serving, it was actually Mary who made the wiser choice, by seizing the time to simply be with Jesus.
This is the lesson of the story—and one I recently learned.
A Lesson Learned
Just recently I planned a special outing for myself, my husband and our daughter to attend a show at our local planetarium. After the show we returned home to share a dessert I’d prepared—a lovely ending to a special evening. All was going well, but shortly after the dessert while my husband and daughter were engaged in conversation revolving around stars, planets and galaxies, I cleared the dishes and began cleaning the kitchen. My husband and daughter both protested, “The dishes can wait; come and sit with us.” But I dismissed their pleas and finished cleaning while they continued their conversation.
Later that evening, I realized I’d made the wrong choice. The truth is, at some point the kitchen would have been cleaned. Yet, due to selfishness and ignorance, I’d missed a golden opportunity to spend quality time with my husband and daughter.
I shared this story as it served as a life lesson, reminding me of the critical importance of making the most of every opportunity. And that time is best spent when it is invested in and shared with others.
[So, Lord,] teach us to use wisely all the time we have (Psalm 90:12 CEV).
Pray
Father God, I thank you for the gift of time. I understand it is a precious resource. Help me to use it wisely to honor You, encourage others, and make an eternal difference in the world. Amen.
Reflect
What does “making the most of every opportunity” mean to you?
Encourage others with your response to this week’s question HERE!