Budgeting Time

Friday, June 30

Budgeting Time
Anna Williams

“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 ESV

This week I was listening to a podcast of a conversation between a very respected psychologist and a well-known medical doctor about health and fulfillment. The M.D. was sharing that the pandemic brought about a major change in his perspective regarding the most important values in his life and how much time he allowed for them. 

He said that he had a calendar in his office that tracked how many weeks he had left until his children (ages 6, 9 and 15) would most likely leave for college. This illustration helped him realize that his time with them under his care was finite and it drove a desire to make the most of that time. It helped give him perspective.

Have you ever wondered what it means in the scripture above “because the days are evil”? I’ve been pondering it and have a few ideas. Who is the father of evil? The devil, right? Jesus said the devil has come to steal, kill, and destroy. (John 10:10) 

One of the most effective ways that he attempts to apply those methods of evil is with our time. He seeks to steal our joy and have us waste time with anxiety, anger, or bitterness. He tries to kill our effectiveness by distracting us with mindless pursuits that keep us from making progress and overcoming challenges. He attempts to destroy our relationships by enticing us away from quality time with loved ones to pursue work/hobbies/projects in an unbalanced manner. 

So how do we combat this daily onslaught of evil? Psalm 37:5 NLT says: “Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust him, and he will help you.” We slow down. We stop charging through each day and look carefully at how we walk. We seek to understand God’s will for our lives, and then we use our time to accomplish it by the grace and guidance of the Holy Spirit.