Making the Most of Your Time

Richard Hollerman

I know that many friends, acquaintances, family, and others may wonder why I seek to be so active and busy at nearly all times. They may think, “Why doesn’t he just slow down?” This is a reasonable thought and it does make sense—sometimes. It’s true that we do need time to “recharge our batteries” and think through issues of life.

On the other hand, life is brief—very brief—and our time on earth is limited. We all know that time here on earth is short and must be used to the greatest advantage. As Scripture says, “Childhood and the prime of life are fleeting” (Ecclesiastes 11:10b). We are only given a few short years, at best, and then we will die and pass away. We will soon come to our end and there will be no more (see Ecclesiastes 12:1-14). Most people live only a few years, perhaps 70, 80, 90, or 100 but we are not guaranteed even this.

Two hundred years ago, five hundred years ago, or 1500 years ago people also lived. And nearly all of them, with very few exceptions, thought that the future was open and somehow must have assumed that it would go on and on. But, sadly, we know that it didn’t. Life came to an end—and most just were not prepared to leave this life. It was the end for them. And it will be like that for us as well. Our life will be over before we realize it, whether tomorrow, next year, or thirty years from now. It will end—thus we had better recognize this now, while there is yet time!

Although eternity before us may be endless and it goes on and on, life isn’t like that at all. Psalm 90 (the only psalm written by Moses, about 1400 BC) says it plainly: “As for the days of our life, they contain seventy years, or if due to strength, eighty years, yet their pride is but labor and sorrow; for it is gone and we fly away” (90:10). Our time is limited—very limited—thus we must use every moment that we can to the greatest advantage!

Paul the apostle knew this, of course. He warned, “Be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:15-16). Did we read this as it was written? He is saying that since the days are “evil” we must be careful how we walk or live. We must be wise. And we must make the most of our time. To quote Alfred, we must be “buying up the opportunities.” And the TCNC puts it, “making the most of every opportunity.” Further, Phillips puts it: “Make the best use of your time, despite all the difficulties of these days.”

I notice that the previous part of the sentence is also significant. Again, Alfred says, “Take heed then how ye walk strictly.” TCNC says, “Take great care, then, how you live.” Phillips says, “Live life, then, with a due sense of responsibility.” Do we do this? Do we face life with a true sense of responsibly—and thus use our time well?

Perhaps with a focus on outsiders, we also read, “Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity” (Colossians 4:5). This speaks of opportunity. Do we use this well? We notice also in the book of John, the words of our Lord, “We must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming when no one can work (John 9:4-5).” Yes, Jesus must have had a deep sense of time and a recognition of the opportunities that He had to know the will of God and to share it with others. Likewise, we must work the works of God for the “night” is coming—perhaps sooner than we think.

I suppose that I lived an active but purposeless life until I was fifteen years of age. As you may know, it was then that I carefully read Scripture and finally came to renounce the denomination I was part of. That began an entirely new and different perspective of my life—one of deliberate, careful, and earnest reading, study, praying and eventually change. This went on until I was about age 20—and then moved away in a year when I even more earnestly sought to please God and learn His will. Since that time, I do look back with a regret that I didn’t do even more for the work of the Kingdom for I came to know that my time on earth is limited—very limited.

How can we possibly go on with life “as normal” while we know that at any moment our life could come to an end and all opportunities to learn, and grow, and study, and read, and share, to work, and preach will come to a grinding stop! Let us work, and serve, and teach, and preach while we can, while it is still called “today” and while we are still living. May God help us to live and grow and do His will while we can! We must use the moment that we have—for the time will slip away from us so quickly. We will all die one day (unless the Lord returns first) and that will be the end of earthly opportunities. Are you prepared?