Time

3-23-2009

Time is such a valuable, yet underappreciated blessing that many times we don’t appreciate until it’s gone. In sports, time runs out and you either win or lose the game. For strategic purposes you can call a “time out” as if to stop time. Many of the most memorable highlights and championships took place as time ran out leaving players full of joy and others full of regret. I grew up playing basketball, and have watched a lot of NBA games. One pet peeve I have always had when watching a basketball game, or any sporting event for that matter, is how much harder the players play when time is running out. Why don’t they work as hard as they can the entire game? The off season is a time to relax, not the first quarter.
In life, we cannot call time out, so we must understand the importance of our time each and every day. As many of you probably know, I stay very busy, and people always ask me where I find the time. A great friend of mine asked me where I find the time to write these devotionals each day, and my response was very simple, “I don’t find the time, I make the time.” We all have the same exact amount of time each and every day, twenty four hours, and how you spend that time will ultimately leave you fulfilled or empty inside.
It is extremely important to understand the difference between activity and productivity. I know a lot of people that are extremely active, and as a result their family, marriage, and personal development all suffer. Those that are extremely productive are using their time wisely. Truly successful (reaching your God-given potential in life) people schedule time in their day for personal development, their family, and their marriage. I know a lot of people that have a lot of money and they are miserable. They spend all of their time making money thinking that’s going to make them happy when nothing could be further from the truth. Remember, I am blessed to be a millionaire, so I am not a broke person making these comments, I am simply saying, you will make money when you are doing things you are passionate about. The best part, is you will enjoy the money with your loved ones, if you MAKE time for them.
I run four companies, and I can promise you that I could never “find the time” to be a loving husband, work on myself, and build solid relationships with loved ones. I have to schedule the time. My wife and I have our date night every Friday night, and set aside time to read the bible and pray regularly. I put those events on the calendar the same way I do a huge business meeting. What you have to understand is those should be a priority over EVERY business meeting. We cannot put a price tag on personal development and your valued relationships. In order to work on yourself, you must spend time doing so. In order to be the best husband, father, mother, brother, son, etc. you need to be, it must be planned. Success happens by design, not by accident. Just like we cannot “find the time” to be successful, you will never “find the time” to be the best you can be at everything you do. You must make the time. My wife and I have on the schedule every morning to go to the gym and work on our physical being, so doesn’t it makes sense to schedule even more time working on our spiritual being?
Christ clearly informs us to focus on today and to live each day to the fullest. What can you do each day to enable you to be the best parent, student, child, spouse, teacher, coach, minister, person you can be? Don’t wait until time is running out to work your hardest. Don’t wait until the last second to be the best person you can be. Don’t wait until the last second to live out the passions God has put on your heart. Stop surviving and start living! Remember, there aren’t time outs, so live each day as if it were your last.
Application:
1. What time wasters do you need to get rid of in your life (TV is a good start)?
2. What do you need to be more intentional about that will lead you in the right direction towards success?
3. Read Matthew 6: 25-34