July, 2003 "Whose Time Is It?"

“What time is it?” This is a question we often are thinking or asking someone or checking on ourselves. For in our busy and hurried lifestyles, we must keep close track of the time. We either wear watches, or check our cell phones or PDA’s for the correct time. There is constantly an alarm going off on someone’s wrist – beeping the urgent notice of a meeting to be at, a call to make, a pill to take…Yes, we often ask the question “What time is it?”

But how many of us really give thought to the question of “Whose time is it?” Who really owns our time? Is it our employer? Our family? The television network which produces our favorite TV shows? The internet chat room members? How often have you cried out at the end of a stressful and strenuous day – “I just need some time to myself?”

I have been thinking a lot about “time” lately. I realize that I have been pretty spoiled and blessed, especially at this stage of my life, to not have very many outside time pressures and constraints. My children are grown, my time with my granddaughter is joyful, relaxing and fun, I have had no economic need to work outside the home for a salary, I am the director of this ministry and therefore not under anyone else’s scheduling demands.

Until just recently, I have honestly felt that my life and all of my time was fairly well consecrated and committed to the Lord. But He is showing me differently.

Because of the impending divorce proceedings that my husband of thirty-one years began in January of this year, I am spending a great deal of time with the Lord asking Him to help me evaluate and reassess my life, my heart, my motives, the ministry activities I participate in and my financial situation. I am seeking Him regarding a salaried job and what that is supposed to be. I am presenting back to Him the opportunities and options that I believe He is giving to me to consider.

The truth the Lord is revealing to me throughout all of this is regarding the whole issue of “time.” I am finding that the gears in my brain are grinding a bit at the thought of “giving up” my freedom to choose daily what I will do with my time. And that is where the Lord has been speaking to me.

If I really am His (and I am) and if I really am bought with a price (and I am) and if I really am His bondservant (and I am and want to be) – then I have no time of my own. I have no right to make decisions regarding the time He has allotted to me and the gifts and talents He has given to me to use.

He is showing me that the level of consecration of my time is not as complete as I had thought. And that until I am able to totally yield this to Him, I will not be able to hear clearly what He desires for me to do with the time that I have.

Years ago, there was a commercial on television that impacted me even though I don’t even remember what it was advertising. But the scene that I picture is of a man in a car driving up to a drive-through and ordering at the window. He was tired and haggard looking and with a very hoarse and weary sounding voice, he said, “I’d like to buy some more time, please.”

I am sure we all feel that way – that there isn’t enough time in the day to do all that we want to do. But I think I am learning that there is always enough time in the day to do what God calls us to do for that day. We really don’t even know if we have a tomorrow – so it is important to not put off what God calls us to for the only moment we have in time – the “now” moment.

A dear friend and former Worship Pastor of mine recently went home to sing and rejoice in the presence of God. What a loss to his family, friends and to the body of Christ. We will miss him. But he spent his time on this earth leaning to walk in the love of God and sharing that with others through his parenting, friendship and pastoral ministry. He also left his legacy in song. He wrote many songs of praise and worship to God that will live on forever – as I am sure he is even now, singing with the angels around the throne! His time was the Lord’s and he lived it because of his love for Jesus.

During the time of Pastor George’s passing and his memorial service, another friend was hospitalized due to an accident. She also went home to be with the Lord. She was a sweet and dear saint of God who gave her time to the Lord minute by minute, serving Him as she touched many people with His love, on a daily basis. One Sunday she was standing in the foyer of her church following the service and chatting with friends, and the next minute she was lying under a car that had come crashing through the front window of the church. She and her doctor and family and friends thought she would be out of the hospital in a few days after being monitored and cared for. However, she slipped into a coma and never woke up. Her Lord had decided that her time on this earth was completed. And so, He took her home to be in His presence. Jesus is enjoying Mary right now and she is reveling in His love and glory in a way that was her heart’s desire. There are many who are missing her, however, her legacy lives on in the lives she touched as she gave her time to the Lord’s work.

As I think upon the lives of these friends and my own life and the limited amount of time we have allotted to us here on this earth in which to serve our God and King, I am reminded of this beautiful passage from Ecclesiastes.

Ecclesiastes 3

1There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:
2 a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

9 What does the worker gain from his toil? 10 I have seen the burden God has laid on men. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. 13 That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil-this is the gift of God. 14 I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him.

I love that expression in verse 11. “God has set eternity in the hearts of men.” Oh, what a truth. That is what drives us to seek Him. That is what causes us to feel empty until we are filled with His life and hope and all of His goodness. That is what keeps us serving and toiling in this world – because we have a hope for a better tomorrow. That is why God will never let us be satisfied outside of Him and outside of being a part of His family and kingdom.

Why not take some “time” and ask the Lord to do a “time check” on your life. Don’t be afraid that He will fill up your days with meaningless and endless activity. My guess would be that He might have you slow down and give Him some more of your time – which is really His time – time to love and laugh and enjoy the God who created you and who gives you breath and life and time.

I am praying for direction for my life because I want to be able to look upon Jesus, and hear Him say,

“Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things: enter into the joy of your Lord.” (Matthew 25:23)

It is not just a matter of how I am judged at the Bema, the judgment seat of Christ, which is described in 2 Corinthians 5:10, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things [done] in [his] body, according to that he hath done, whether [it be] good or bad.” But it is a matter of my bringing joy and pleasure and glory to My Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ.

Won’t you join me in consecrating and giving over to God all of yourself – body, soul, spirit – time, talents, possessions, relationships?

“Lord, we give You all of ourselves. We know that we were bought with a price. We thank You for the precious blood of Jesus. We are glad to be owned by You. We are thankful that we are in Your care as Your bondservants and that You will provide every provision for our every need. We commit our lives, our time, our possessions, our relationships, our talents, our all and our everything to You. We ask You to lead and guide us and direct our steps so that we can make the most of the allotted number of our days. We want to bring You joy and glory in all that we do. Amen”

With His L.O.V.E.,
Patty

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