What Time Is It?

Do you remember getting a report card with the little box checked “NO” for “Uses Time Wisely” ? Boy, I do. I was a daydreamer. I read all the time, even during math class. I’d put a reading book inside my math book and read during the lesson.

Those were childish ways, I have put those away and I don’t daydream too much any more. These days I am determined to become a willing vessel for God and to allow Him to make me more and more like Jesus.

Wasting time and using it unwisely are immature actions that we must cease early on in life. Even elementary students are expected to use their time wisely. Why? Because time is not a renewable resource. Once it’s been used, it’s over and will never return.

Am I, as a grown Christian woman, using my time wisely? I have 24 hours in a day just as every one else does. Am I constantly bemoaning the fact that there are only 24 hours?

Are there time-wasters in my day that you can identify and get rid of?

Or maybe I’m a “piddler”. That’s what we southerners calls someone who takes her own sweet time in doing everything there is to do, often finding all manner of other things to attend to that get in the way of doing what the original duty was! For instance, you might be cleaning out from under your bed and find a box with old junk in it. Instead of going through the junk quickly, are you prone to sit and hold each object fondly for half an hour while the job is waiting to be done?

Well, there is nothing wrong with reminiscing, nothing wrong with remembering. But if it’s a habit that keeps you from your work, it may need to be dealt with.

This article should not be construed to say that Christian women must not take any time for themselves. Not true! We need self-time. What I am talking about are the things during the day that keep us from doing our duties in our homes, you know what yours are.

God’s Word says:
” My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up. ” Psalm 5:3

Am I sleeping too late in the morning? There are times in life when we simply need more rest; when we are ill, when there is a new baby, etc. But normally, we need to get up and start the day with a prayer and a song to the Lord.

Getting up too late, watching too much TV, reading too much extracurricular material, staying up too late….. those types of things will always come back to bite you concerning your housework.

Let’s look at that dear Virtuous Woman of Proverbs 31…………..
Here is what she does:

Her Husband trusts her
She does good to him
She does hand work
Goes shopping and buys food and merchandise
Provides food for those in her household
She plans a home business
She works hard
She works diligently
She does what we might call menial labor
Gives to the poor and needy
Makes sure her family looks neat and well clothed
She makes sure her own clothing is beautiful
Her husband is known by the elders and we are to presume that he is in part known because of her work.
She develops a home business and makes money at it
After all of this what people see about her are her strength and honor.
She is wise and kind.

And now here is the kicker:
She looks after her household well and she does not become idle

Her whole reason for existing is to serve God by serving her family, whatever and whoever that family may be. She does not become idle or self absorbed. We want to be like her because she is like HIM.
Idleness comes from a wrong focus. We want to trust that the Lord will meet our personal needs not continually focus on ourselves.

We want to use our time wisely.

Father God, we know that you are perfect in all Your ways. Make us like Jesus, mold us and teach us how to use the time you have given us to the best of our abilities. Increase our abilities and give us wisdom to do Your will throughout the day every day. Forgive us when we fail you, and strengthen us to live a life that is honoring to you. Thank you Father, that when we honor you with our lives, we will be fulfilled and blessed. Amen.