“Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is” Ephesians 5:15-17

Benjamin Franklin is credited with the quote, “Dost thou love life? Then do not squander Time; for that’s the Stuff Life is made of.” Life really is made up of time, and time is like a limited bank account: it must be budgeted. We daily face choices as to how we spend and invest time, just as we do with financial resources.

While it is a matter of perspective, time seems to pass more quickly as we age. Weeks seems to come and go with breathtaking speed, whereas a six week’s grading period in school seemed like an eternity.

Someone dying of cancer commented that they thought they still had more to accomplish in life, but limited time prohibited those ambitions. Perhaps one of the devil’s great tricks is to lull us into lethargy as time swiftly passes, regardless of whether our years be few or many. We cannot reclaim time and opportunities past.

It is said that the difference between a manager and a leader is that a manager does things right whereas a leader does the right things. It is good to do things right so long as we are doing the right things. A “careful walk,” directed by the Spirit and wisdom of God, will lead us to rightly doing the right things.

Like many of you, I am a person of routine; my life generally revolves around schedules and time frames. My wife and I take our dog for a morning walk around our neighborhood, and I anticipate it taking a certain amount of time. But, we live in a friendly neighborhood, and that walk will be paused with conversations; sometimes longer than I expect. And yet, what is the best use of time? Investing in the lives of others we meet, or tending to some task at a certain time?

There is wisdom in understanding “what the will of the Lord is.” Understanding the will of the Lord is key in making the most of the time, and His will is clearly evident in these two verses: “not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9), and; “who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4).

May we utilize our time today to invest in the salvation of others, and their knowledge of the truth.

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