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
One way you can prepare for your journey to heaven is to make the most of your time on earth.
The apostle Paul said it this way in Ephesians 5:15- 16: “Be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.” In the Bible, the word walk is a metaphor for how you live your life. Paul was saying, “Be very careful how you live your life in light of how short your time is on earth.”
Here is a good exercise. Ask yourself, What three things do I think God would have me to do before I die? That is a good thing to sit down and think about for a while. Once you get those three things in your mind, then ask yourself, As I go throughout the day, how much time do I actually devote to those major priorities in my life? Most of us spend very little time doing the things we think are the most important. That is why Paul told us to make the most of our time.
The phrase translated “make the most” is a Greek word that literally means “buy up.” Buy up your time. Time is a precious commodity. Somebody has said the difference between successful people and unsuccessful people is their tender, loving care for time. And as another person has said, “Time is the stuff life is made of. Life is like a dollar. You can spend it any way you want, but you can only spend it once.” That is why Paul was saying, “You’d better buy it up. You’d better make the most of your time.”
What are some ways in which you tend to waste your time?
How could you make better use of those hours to fulfill your God-given priorities?
God, help me identify the three things You would have me do before I die. Then give me the wisdom and courage to make the most of the time You give me in this life to focus on doing what You have called me to do.
Watch Dr. Jeffress this Tuesday as he talks about the hope of heaven on LIFE TODAY. This is an excerpt from A Place Called Heaven Devotional by Dr. Robert Jeffress. Copyright ©2021 by Robert Jeffress. Published by Baker Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group. Used by permission.
