Time

Time seems to be going by fast! Quickly or not, we are in the final quarter of 2022. Personally I’m glad we’re coming to the end of this year.

2022 has been a difficult year for a lot of people, including me. The reasons vary—familial, financial, emotional, physical, spiritual, etc. As eager as I am to put these days behind me, I also keep wishing for more time in the day.

Good days or bad, time waits for no one. However, our Lord patiently waits for us. Therefore, are we using our time as God intended?

Use time wisely

Let’s consider the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus [Luke 16: 19-31]. Poor Lazarus was covered in sores and destitute, lying at the rich man’s door. The rich man paid no heed to Lazarus.

When Lazarus died he was taken to heaven. One can surmise that despite his miseries on earth, he used his time as God intended. Otherwise, Lazarus would not have been carried away by the angels to where he was comforted.

On the other hand, financially and materially well off, the rich man did not share his good fortune with those who needed help. Upon his death, he was sent to the netherworld where he was in torment. The rich man could not turn back the clock to make things right. It was too late for him to change.

Therefore, whether our circumstances are good or bad, beware of becoming like the rich man. That is, becoming self-involved. We risk hardening of the heart and closure of the mind and soul.

In that self-centered state, we find little time or energy to consider the needs of our neighbors, our community, our world. Following God's will, making sacrifices, giving charity, and offering prayers for the sake of others become unimportant. That is not the way God intended us to use our time. “So for one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, it is a sin.” [James 4:17]

Beyond time

What frightens me is the fact that life can change in an instant, and usually not for the better. We could be going about our daily routine, and in the next minute, our life is turned upside down and inside out. The Bible warns us of that possibility. “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what any day may bring forth.” [Proverbs 27:1]

Not knowing what tomorrow brings should be incentive to take time to make our lives right with God. That means repent our sins and give compassion to the poor and down-hearted. Granted, many things can distract us, using up our time. “Yet the world and its enticement are passing away. But whoever does the will of God remains forever.” [1 John 2:17]

Therefore, let us not be distracted from our eternal life. However, when all we have in front of us is the here and now, eternity is hard to fathom. Frankly, running out of time is a reality many of us do not want to ponder either.

The bottom line is as we grow older, time in this world runs shorter. We can keep wishing for more time or we can make the best of what we have. Ultimately, what we do with our time will determine whether our destiny is one like Lazarus’ or the rich man’s. Amen!