Biblical Time Management

With another Monday rolling around it seems like a good time to talk about how we can best manage the time the God has given us. Most of us want to use our time more effectively. In fact, Americans almost have an obsession with the idea of time management. Take a walk through any bookstore and you will find shelves of books on how to maximize your time.  What does the Bible say this subject?

First, time is important because our lives are brief. Psalm 39:4-5 “You have made my days a mere handbreath, the span of my years is as nothing before you. Each man’s life is but a breath.” The Apostle James echoes this in his epistle, “You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.”  Since only a certain amount of time has been allotted to us, it is important to make the most of every day. “Be very careful then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:15

Making the most of every day requires that we prioritize and set goals. Taking a few minutes each week, and even each day, to list what is most important, then writing out action plans to accomplish those items pays off in the end. If we allow our calendar to be ruled by the urgent, we will find ourselves running in a dozen directions and seldom getting the most important jobs accomplished. Take time and draw up a simple to-do list, prioritize it, and then go to work on that list, beginning with the most important, and you will have a gone a long way toward using your time wisely.

Remember, when setting priorities; place your focus on the eternal and not just the earthly. Put a premium on prayer and daily Bible study. Make Church attendance a top priority.  Set aside time for your family and your marriage.  We will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ one day. Let us be found faithful in our use of time.