Time
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.The question of time is something that has been in my mind lately. Especially because of the fact that i've just finished my 2 months worth of holiday. If you know me well, you will also know that I often have extremist view of things. So knowing that i wasted my time going out with my friends and not doing any particular useful things during the holidays made me very guilty. Not only guilty, it made me angry because i lack the self control that i needed to use my time wisely (p.s. please don't follow my example).
Ephesians 5:15-17
When i got back from holidays - at school a friend asked me: "What did you do for the holidays?" And I answered: "nothing particularly helpful or useful"
The answer that i got back from him is one of the most gracious and merciful answer, the answer that i didn't quite expect but needed, he said: "What's wrong with having a holiday, a holiday is good and useful too - that's why they're called holidays"
Please don't get me wrong, when i said that i needed that encouragement - i didn't mean that i agree with the fact that there is such a time in our life when we can be forget about everything and just do nothing. I don't think that's a good way of using the precious time that God has given us. But i agree with the fact that we need rest, sometimes we need a break from pushing ourselves to do work - and to stop and enjoy the fruit of our work. God when He finished making earth - on the 7th day He took a rest to enjoy His creation. So should we.
I guess - encouraging people to take a break and enjoy is easy for most - but today i want to talk about something else. And that is taken from the verse i've given above: "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 5:15-7.
Why did paul give us such a hard exhortation? I mean the Ephesians - they had it rough and tough. At that time Christians were persecuted - they were fighting and doing more things than Christians today - don't they deserve a break? Why can't Paul say something soothing and encouraging for once!? Something like: "rest little one, you've done your bit - wait for God to do the rest, etc2."
But that is the point isn't it? Paul said that because he knew that they were at WAR. Imagine if you were born in a war country. And one day you said to yourself: "that's it - i've done my fill of hiding and fighting - time for me to take a rest and watch TV for a whole day." Imagine that. that's quite idiotic isn't it? I mean - who knows when that bomb or that stray bullet is going to hit you while you're not aware.
But you know. I don't think this verse is particularly applicable for me now. I don't think i'm in a war against anything. Life for me has been good! I've got friends that i can call if i feel bored (the only war i fight is the war against boredom and i've got the solution to win it), and i've got money if i'm hungry or if i want to look for another hobby to release my boredom.
You know, i've got everything. Why would i need to train myself? To show off to others about my fitness ? (that's boastful and proud of me!).
You know sometimes i feel like i made the wrong decision for going to Bible college - because i don't need most of the info that i've learned. People around me don't care about it anyway. It's like going to uni and only using 10% of what you've learned there. I mean - something inside me keeps on telling me "Why should i try so hard to understand the Bible? Especially if understanding and knowing more about God and sins just made it more harder for you to relate to others? Just spend time watching tv, polish skills that might make you look cool - that's more "useful" for reaching out God's people isn't it?"
You know, I cannot say how grateful i am that the Holy Spirit is inside of me and kept on reminding me of the things that are right, good and pleasing to God. Because if i don't I would give up studying. I would just follow my own stupid desires and do what i like.
You know, Paul was right when he said: "because the days are evil" because the days are evil! You cannot look to the world anymore to find the answers. It's even harder if even the people in your Church looks no different from the world - where else should you look?
Time is a funny thing isn't it? It keeps us in track of the temporariness of it all. Because of time - athletes do practices everyday to keep track - because they knew if they don't their body will become weak and its impossible for them to win.
People who knew that they have few more years to live also greatly affected by time. They tried to live more - help people, amend mistakes, build better and deeper relationships, etc. Because they knew that what they have is limited.
I think those two analogies captures what Paul is trying to say in these few verses. Don't waste your time - because if you don't keep on being watchful and train yourself in holiness - you know that your faith will become feeble. It will be harder for you to win the race. And don't waste your time - because time is limited - who knows when God might come or take your life away from you. "Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is."
Let me try to conclude what i'm trying to say in this post. First of all, please don't get me wrong -I am not at all advocating for people who are workaholics, that wasn't my intention at all. As i said in the beginning, there is a great virtue in taking a break from your work - to enjoy what you've done. But in your enjoyment, never forget that you are in a war. That you must always keep watch because the days are evil. Keep watch and train yourself in holiness. Because when you grow in maturity and wisdom and godliness, you will learn how to best manage your time.