Use Your Time Wisely

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

Your days on Earth—to laugh with family, to visit with friends, to help those in need—are few; use them wisely.

Consider the moments, hours, days you have given to screens. The average American spends between four and five hours on a screen each day. While we are scanning through funny cat videos, the clock is tick- tick- ticking our lives away. Have we read the Bible or prayed? Have we spent quality time with family or friends? Many times the answer is no; that time was spent on social media, taking selfies, watching videos, or streaming a movie. Then we are surprised to look at the time once we emerge from the internet.

Is there anything wrong with the videos, the posts, or the photos? There is certainly dangerous content online, but most of the time the media we are viewing is not inherently bad. However, perhaps the question is not simply whether something is wrong. Perhaps the most poignant question of the day is: Is this wise? Is it wise to spend all of our time doing something that does not enrich our lives or the lives of others? At one time those hours were spent in delightful or thoughtful conversations with family or reading a book or learning a musical instrument or studying a new language or taking a walk outside. Now we are constantly watching other lives instead of living our own.

Psalms 90:12 says, “So teach us to number our days so we can apply our hearts to wisdom.” It may seem foreboding to mention, but you have a specific number of days left to live. If you knew that number, perhaps you would view time differently. If you ask any person toward the end of their lives, they would say that it goes by quickly. The most common advice from seniors is to treasure every moment. You only have this day, this moment once. Use it wisely.

Think about it.

What does your daily life look like? Is your phone the first thing you see in the morning and the last thing you see at night? Take inventory of the hours you spend. How many of those are lost on screens? Perhaps it is time for you to put boundaries around the amount of time you give to your phone and instead give those hours to reading the Bible, praying, playing a boardgame with family, calling someone who could use encouragement, visiting a friend, laughing with your spouse, tickling your children, planting a garden, or simply cleaning the house. Be mindful of every moment. Look at your daily life. What changes could be made to ensure that you use your time more wisely?

Read about it.

Read more scriptures regarding your time on Earth in Romans 13:11, James 4:14, Colossians 4:5, and 2 Corinthians 6:2.

Pray about it.

Dear Lord, you know the number of days I have on this Earth. Help me to be mindful of the time you have given me. Give me wisdom to spend my days in fruitful endeavors and to live in a way that I do not regret how I have used my time. In Jesus name.