Spend Your Time Wisely - by Lillian Rhoades

“The days of our lives are seventy years...." (Psalms 90:10 NKJ)

Of all the sentiments I’ve heard expressed right after the New Year, the most frequent one has been, “I can’t believe how quickly a year went by.” A recent e-mail I received stated similar thoughts. A few phrases caught my attention. "Seems just yesterday that I was so YOUNG… wonder where all the years went…” And... “TODAY IS THE OLDEST YOU'VE EVER BEEN, YET THE YOUNGEST YOU'LL EVER BE…”

Yes, the days and years come and go all too quickly, and we forget that moments count. If time were dollar bills, we would be more careful about how we spent it. We would manage our days as diligently as we keep track of our checking account. But let’s not forget that time’s value is not measured in money, but in what we do with it. The people whose lives we impact… the God-given talent we make full use of…the time we spend sharing the gospel of Good News; all indicate how well we cash in on the years given to us. The Apostle Paul admonishes us to, “Redeem the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:16).

How can we “redeem the time?” The following chorus points us in the right direction. “With eternity’s values in view, Lord, with eternity’s values in view, may I do each day’s work for Jesus, with eternity’s values in view.” So this year, fill your moments and hours with those things that please God. Only then can you look back and say, this year flew by, but I spent it wisely.

Lillian Rhoades lives in upstate New York, and is the author of: When Youth Fades–How to Celebrate Life After 60. Contact