Do all you can as well as you can.
“Don’t waste your time on useless work,
mere busywork.” Ephesians 5:16 MSG.
My thoughts and comments today are about,
“Eternal realities and Kingdom Priorities.”
Time is irreplaceable. And sometimes opportunity is as well. Much of what you use or lose can be replaced, except for time. Time is an incredibly valuable commodity. You may not value time as you should nor use it as wisely as you could. You might incorrectly assume that you have plenty of time to spare. To live as though you have unlimited time is to presume upon the future and to neglect the moment. You cannot know how many hours, days, weeks, months, or years that you are allotted. Use wisely the time God gives you.
The Bible counsels that we are not assume anything about tomorrow, “because you do not know what a day will bring.” James 4:14 NKJV. The Psalmist taught us to pray, “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90:12 NIV. Your goal should be to prize each hour and wisely fill each day you are granted. Eternal realities and Kingdom priorities are non-negotiable.
Here are three practical suggestions for everyday life.
(1) Just say no. That should be simple enough.Learn to say no when you should.Your own trivial pursuits and selfish pleasures consume rather than contribute. To serve God well and provide the best investment of your time to do God’s will, prioritize your responsibilities and be helpful to others.You feel stress when you commit to more than you can accomplish in the available time. Jesus could confidently say, “I have finished the work that (Father) gave Me to do.” John 17:4 NKJV. Jesus knew what was eternally important. Life is best when you focus on what matters most.
(2) Put off procrastination. You can always do that later! Putting off things that should be done, and could be done now, wastes time presently and inevitably takes more time eventually. Doing what you don’t feel like doing just because it is what you should do is evidence of personal and spiritual maturity. Jesus is your model, “I do always those things that please the Father.” John 8:29 NKJV. Obeying God promptly and fully in your everyday life is time well spent.
Long ago, I was taught this simple truth and assertion, “I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And what I can do I ought to do, and what I ought to do, by the grace of God I will do.” Do all that you can as well as you can every time that you can.
(3) Take time to be holy. “Godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.” 1 Timothy 4:8 NKJV. Daily, keep in touch with the One who can guide your life and will direct your steps. See Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV. Time spent doing so is profitable and makes every effort more effective.
Jesus taught us to simplify and prioritize life, “Seek first the Kingdom of Heaven and His righteousness, all these other things will be provided for you.” Matthew 6:33 NKJV. When Jesus is first, everything else that should fit does fit. When He is not first and foremost, nothing works as well as it could.
My prayer for you today is to live every day to the glory of God.
EveryDay Life 2019
Website and archives: allenrandolph.com
facebook.com/everydaylife.allenrandolph