Inspire, Fall 2003

NKJV). The term translated “time” is a word that speaks of a specific duration of time, a measure of time, or a “season.” No doubt Paul has in mind that the lifetime of the believer be invested in that which counts for eternity. His reference to evil days is a reminder of the many distractions that can succeed in causing believers to waste or mismanage their time. But there is another implication as well. The next two verses reference the influence of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Christian. One might conclude that verses 15-16 refer to “our times” and verses 17 and 18 to “His hands.” Believers who allow the Spirit of God to be the superintendent of their lives will make use of their time in a way that honors the Lord Jesus Christ, pursues the Christian mission, and invests in eternity. Time and the Lord’s Will Though James doesn’t use the word “time” in his injunction about God’s will, he does make it clear that one’s use of time is his focus. He is chagrined by Christians who assume they can plan for today or tomorrow as though they had some kind of control over time. He reminds them that their lives are “like the morning fog — it’s here a little while, then it’s gone” (James 4:14, NLT). He endeavors to help his readers understand that their lifetimes are framed by the will of God. The human has no means of control over the events of his or her life. No promise of more tomorrows exist. Whether or not we even have a “tomorrow” is dependent on His plans for our lives. Thus, James says one should consider the will of God when making his or her plans for the future, be it the next day or the next year. James, like Paul, reveals his awareness that our times are indeed in His hands. Time and the Work of God One of the wonders of the incarnation was the willingness of Jesus Christ to come in the flesh. Paul gives the specifics in Philippians 2. He there describes the willingness of the Savior to absent Himself from heaven and absolve Himself of the privileges of deity to come to earth as a man, even a slave who would be obedient to death. But as the Gospels relate the details of Christ’s earthly life and ministry, it is evident He is aware that He is limited by both space and time. One of the clearest statements is John 9: “I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work” (John 9:4, NKJV). As Jesus Christ pursued His mission, He clearly understood that His times were in the Father’s hands. In His priestly prayer recorded in John 17, Jesus anticipates returning to heaven and the halls of eternity. He reports to His Father that He glorified Him on earth — His sojourn in time — by completing the work the Father had given Him to do. Even the cross was “on time.” The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ were timed to occur after He had completed His earthly mission. Time and the Child of God Believers who are convinced their times are in His hands will appreciate their responsibility for the stewardship of time. The time allotted to us by the Father can and should be used in such a way as to end our earthly pilgrimage confident we have “glorified the Father by completing the work He gave [us] to do.” First, consideration should be given to the investment of time. Christians who would be good stewards of time realize investing time with the Father is as essential as investing time for Him. Somehow in our heavily scheduled lives, time with the Father is often relegated to a place of limited importance. Contemporary schedules and personal crises often prompt believers to assume the demands of the day will not allow for more than a few moments with God. By contrast, Martin Luther would look at his schedule and conclude that in light of all he had scheduled for his day, he could not spend less than three hours in prayer. A pastor friend once recommended “tithing” one’s time as one would his or her money. His point was not an attempt to create a legalistic schedule. Rather he emphasized giving the Lord the first part of the day. Over the years I’ve reaped the dividends of beginning my day with the Father and having enough time for everything else I needed to do. Second, Christians should consider the importance of prioritizing time. This does not imply a need to be busy all the time. It means giving priority to that which will eventually have an impact on eternity. A guideline that can be helpful is “One hundred years from now, is this going to matter?” Some might come to the erroneous conclusion that rest and leisure must thus be forfeited. However, God Himself rested from His work on the seventh day. Jesus reminded His critics that the Sabbath was made for man. Rest and a change of pace are legitimate priorities when planning one’s use of time. A well-worn cultural cliché notes, “Time is money.” Twenty- first century believers are as aware as others in our culture that time is precious. Its value is enhanced by the realization that the time allotted to the believer affords opportunities to invest in eternity. We cannot predict what tomorrow will bring, but we can be confident the Father’s agenda will be exciting and rewarding. He entrusts to us the moments and days to be used for His glory and the accomplishment of His mission. Like all the gifts of grace the Father gives us, our responsibility is simply to be faithful stewards. We will be better stewards of time if, when we are holding the PDA in our hand, we remember our times are in His hands. Dr. David Drullinger is a professor of Bible at Cedarville University. Inspire 17