JANUARY 16,2010

THE VALUE OF TIME

Scripture Reading--Ephesians 5:15-16

"See then that ye walk circumspectly,

not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time,

because the days are evil."

At the end of your life, you will answer the question, "What will you leave your children?" What should your children expect from their parents as an inheritance? Will they treasure things that rust and depreciate more than the memory of a long-practiced family tradition? Will they embrace money and property more than the tribute of family character?

Right now, decide what you value most in life. If it's gold and silver, all you will leave your children is gold and silver. If it's family, character, and example, then you will leave something that is prized far above earthly riches--something no one can value in dollars and in cents.

Statistics reveal that many families spend to little time together. While they devote much time to retirement portfolios and to life's ambitions, they fail to develop a memory portfolio that highlights the importance of family.

It is important that Christian families spend time together at church, time in the Word, and time at home working on special projects together. Time together is something we all need to make time for. When we measure the value of all things, we will treasure the gift of time more than anything else.

At the end of our lives, we will value time most of all! Is your family spending time together? Or is work, friends, hobbies, and other pursuits stealing God's precious gift of time? Life is too short not to prioritize how we spend it.

Many have argued about whether families should spend quantity time or quality time together. Friend, most of measure quality of time in terms of quantity. It's about time we start thinking about how we spend it.

APPLICATION: Do something special today. Spend time playing a game or reading a book. Look through a photo album and remember the good times you spent together as a family.

--Jeff Kahl--

READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN " 1 " YEAR: Genesis cc. Job 1-4