“What I mean, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none; those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.” 1 Corinthians 7:29-31 (NIV)
Time . . . the gift that keeps slipping away! The Apostle to the Gentiles reminds his readers that time is a brief, and passing commodity. So, he urges us to make the best of the time we have, while we have it.
Recently, Bobbie and I have been babysitting our grandson, Grant, who will be four months old on Jan. 30. As I hold him, watch his smiles, and listen to his gurgles, I get a vivid reminder of how short time really is. Then, I being to reminisce of how it seems only a short time ago that I was holding Grant’s dad as a four month old. “Ain’t it funny how time slips away?”
The old adage is true: Time waits for no one. So, Paul urges us to free ourselves from the world’s worry and burdens. That almost seems like a fantasy, but it isn’t. We are not to ignore the world around us. Rather, Paul encourages us to refuse to be mesmerized by the things of the world. He encourages us to reject the greedy attitudes of the world. He encourages us to let go of worldly sorrows and concerns. His reasoning? Time is both brief and continues non-stop. We must not be distracted from our purpose and mission. Remember, in its present form this world is passing away.
Dear Father, thank you for the time of our lives. Empower us with new attitudes and actions. Enable us to focus on the ministries to which we are called. This I pray in the name of Jesus. AMEN
Be encouraged today in the time God has given,