Time is God’s creation by ordering the sun and the moon to give us days and seasons of life. God stands outside of time but places the boundary of time around us. In order to function and interact with one another, we have quantified time in the form of clocks and calendars that signify the rules of engagement in a very busy world.
We use time as a form of measuring performance and evaluating history and science. We quantify time at the micro level to minute milliseconds to deviate one competitor from another, and then we evaluate it at the macro level to centuries and millennials to study physical and social sciences. We also create our own personal timetables to reach certain milestones of life because we recognize life is short.
In addition to all of the above, we live in a very busy culture that continually advertises things that can fill our time and our lives. They promise to make us feel important and help us to be happy. There are many voices that not only we are bombarded with, but our children are also impacted with. Therefore, it is important to sift through those voices and their demands to determine what is important in God’s economy of time.
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: Ecclesiastes 3:1
In managing our time, it is important to evaluate the season of life we are in. Each season has its own demands, time constraints, and commitments. The culture and the media tells us that we can accomplish anything we want. We have various women’s journals that are full of articles about how a woman can be in good athletic shape, cook delicious home-made meals, be a great wife and mom, and have a demanding job. Some women shrug their shoulders and walk away quietly because they cannot measure up to this standard. Some people take on the challenge to prove that they can be super moms or dads by juggling many balls. Unfortunately, the children don’t make good juggling balls!
The scripture speaks about seasons because seasons are short and don’t last very long. For example, in hot Summer days, it feels like it is going to be hot forever, but the truth is that Fall is right around the corner. The weather will change again and there will be a day that we will miss the heat of Summer. If we remain in tune with the seasons, we can enjoy the peculiarities of each season better, and at the same time prepare for the next season ahead.
I will continue with this subject in the next devotional.
