The Truth About Time
According to Oxford’s most recent research on English usage, the word “time” is the most frequently used noun in our language. I think there’s a good reason for this.
Time is something we all seem to want more of, yet never have enough of. It’s something we’re led to believe we own, but of course we don’t. We can’t control time, hasten it, slow it, or capture it.
But the truth is, God—who lives outside of time—does own time. And He has graciously gifted us with time and charged us to think well about it by stewarding it wisely.
Biblical Perspective
The story of the Bible begins with God who existed before time and who created time. Before there were days, seasons, or years, there was God. Eternal. Unchanging. He is outside of time yet chose to work within it for our good and His purpose.
Genesis 1:5 tells us that God marked time with evening and morning. Ecclesiastes 3:1 reminds us that He appoints a season for every purpose under heaven. Psalm 90:2 &12 teaches us that while our days are limited, God’s faithfulness is eternal. In other words, time is not a cosmic happenstance. It is divinely ordered and purposed.
Because of this, we know our lives are not a compilation of meaningless moments, as some are led to believe. Instead, they are part of the larger framework of God’s timeless story. When we understand time from this perspective, our lives take on greater purpose, and we begin to see time as a gift—a gift meant to be treasured, lived, and shared.
Jesus and Time
As we study the life of Jesus, we see someone who exemplified an unhurried confidence. He was given a God‑sized mission, yet He was never rushed, frantic, or overwhelmed. Instead, He lived with a deep trust in His Father’s timing.
Repeatedly in the Gospels, Jesus speaks of “His hour” or “His time,” as an indication that He was fully aware of His divine timeline. Yet even with this awareness, He made time for people. He paused for interruptions. He lingered with the hurting. He withdrew to pray. And He made time with His Father a top priority.
In Jesus, we see what it looks like to live within time without being mastered by it. His steady pace invites us to walk in the same manner of fully trusting the Father for each step and every moment. Even still, we’re left with an important question: How do we practically live this out? How do we, like Jesus, steward time wisely? Thankfully, Scripture shows us how.
Stewarding Time Wisely
The primary way we learn to steward time well is by giving God first place in everything, including our day. When we seek Him first (Matthew 6:33), everything we need, including the time to accomplish what truly matters, is given to us. But when we get this backwards, our lives become misaligned, and instead of gaining time, we often waste or lose it.
In addition, we steward time wisely by:
Praying (1 Thessalonians 5:17–18)
Serving (1 Peter 4:10)
Worshiping (Hebrews 13:15)
Gathering in community (Hebrews 10:24–25)
Resting (Psalm 127:2)
Time is a highly valuable gift and resource God has granted us. We can’t extend or predict the amount of time we have, but we can make the most of it by living each day with purpose.
At the end of the day, and at the completion of our lives, what matters most is not what we accomplished for ourselves, but what we allowed God to accomplish through us. We must ask ourselves, “Did I use my time to honor Him? Love people well? Invest in others? Serve unselfishly? Listen with compassion? Share the Gospel?” This is what matters most. This is what it means to steward our time wisely for God’s purposes and for the benefit and blessing of others.
So, let’s commit to living this way. This begins by prioritizing time with God each day. Next, it means seizing every opportunity He provides. And finally, it requires continually depending on the Holy Spirit’s wisdom, guidance, and counsel to lead us into wise choices.
Pray
Father, thank You for the gift of time—every breath, every day, every God‑ordained moment. Teach me to walk wisely by living on Your clock, not mine. Help me treat each day as a treasure by putting You first and making the most of every opportunity You provide. Amen.
Reflect
What is one intentional step you can take to steward your time in a way that honors God and blesses others?
Friends, I’d love to hear your experience! Feel free to share your responses in the comment section below, or with me and others HERE!