Where Is All My Time Going?

How often have you heard someone say, “I can’t do that because I don’t have the time”? Nowadays, people, both young and old, live life at such a hectic pace that there never seems to be enough time to complete all the things that they would like to do.

Unfortunately, living a fast-paced life can result in trying to do several things at the same time but not really getting any of them done properly.

The Bible has this to say:

“Live life with a due sense of responsibility…as people who know the meaning of life…Make the best use of your time. Don’t be vague but grasp firmly what you know to be the will of God.” Ephesians 5:15-17

Our time is a gift from God, and we will all have to give an account of how we use it. We just can’t afford to squander it.

Each and every one of us has the same amount of time every day. The difference between successful people and average people is that successful people manage their time wisely. Rather than wasting their time or spending their time, they invest their time and make the most out of each and every moment.

You only have a finite amount of time in your life. When it’s used up… that’s it! YOUR TIME IS YOUR LIFE. Time is more important than money. Money is a renewable resource—there are always places to get more of it. But time is a limited resource. When you give someone your time, you’ve given him or her a part of your life. This means that time management is really life management.

So here are two things you can do to make better use of your time:

1. ANALYZE YOUR LIFESTYLE AND PRIORITIZE.
Be aware of where your time is going. Not everything you want to do has the same level of importance. Some things have a high priority and must be done immediately, while others have a very low priority, and, to put it bluntly, it wouldn’t be a great catastrophe if they weren’t done at all.

A person who gives the same priority to every activity will end up leaving important jobs undone and will suffer the inevitable consequences.

2. UTILIZE THE PRESENT!
Make the most of this moment. Don’t procrastinate! Some people put off doing certain jobs or making certain decisions. Not only does this waste time, but it also means some important jobs will not get finished, and some important decisions will not be made when they should have been made.

There is no doubt that procrastination is one of the main reasons why we don’t achieve as much as we should. The writer of Proverbs warns against it when he states:

“Do not say to your neighbour ‘Come back later; I’ll give it tomorrow’— when you now have it with you.” Proverbs 3:28 (NIV)

You have just enough time to fulfill God’s purpose for your life. If you can’t seem to get everything done, it means you’re either doing things God never intended for you to do, or you’re doing the right things in the wrong way.

A question to consider as you work this week is: “How much of what I’m doing right now is going to count ten years from now… 50 years from now… or for eternity?”

Make God’s purposes for you your number-one priority, and you’ll manage your time—and your life—with success.