Are you guilty of wishing that there were more hours to the day? Have you ever used the common expressions "I don't have time" or "I'm too busy"? Knowing how time can often get the better of us, I can't blame people for using these. But have you ever thought that at the heart of these expressions is an evaluation of priorities? By saying "I don't have time ~ I'm too busy" we make value judgements when we push aside that which is less of a priority for us due to the limited time we have. We often make an instant value judgement without giving the thought to it that God might like us to give.
Think of it in terms of ministry. When we say, directly or indirectly, to someone "I'm too busy, I don't have time" what message does that convey to the individual/s concerned? Ministry is time consuming and we do need to allow ourselves opportunities of personal refreshment, it's true. But valuing people is surely a vital part of the effectiveness of ministry. Let's make sure that we don't only make time for that which we "want to" do in preference to that which we "need to do", less the end result leads to a devaluing of those to whom we are called to serve.
Lord, help us wisely manage the times you appoint!
Ecclesiastes 3:1 (MSG) ~ "There's an opportune time to do things, a right time for everything on the earth."
