In his late teens, Jonathan Edwards penned a number of resolutions regarding living a life to the glory of God. In one of those resolutions he stated, “Resolved, never to lose one moment of time; but improve it the most profitable way I possibly can.”
As we enter a New Year, we need to set priorities and guidelines regarding our most precious commodity — time. Time is the one commodity we can never get back; therefore, it is imperative that we Christ-followers make kingdom investments with our time. What are some ways that we can invest our time to the glory of God and the advancement of His kingdom?
- Make the spiritual disciplines a priority in your life this New Year. If you do not already have a consistent pattern of spending time alone with God, make this New Year a time you will make that kingdom investment. Download a Bible-reading plan from the Internet and take 30 minutes a day to read Scripture and pray. You will be amazed at what God will teach you during these times with him.
- Read the word of God with your family. Enjoy times of family worship with your family members. Read the word of God together. Pray together. Have these family worship times at least once a week. Your time in family worship will be kingdom investments that reap eternal dividends.
- Engage in Gospel conversations with unchurched people. Spend time with family members, friends and acquaintances who are lost without Christ. Show the love of Christ to them and share the Gospel verbally. In spending your time this way, you will be used by God for the advancement of His kingdom.
- Exercise your spiritual gifts in ministry in your church. Every believer has a spiritual gift that God wants him or her to use in ministry in a local church. Inquire of your pastors where you can serve in your church in order to bring glory to God.
- Use technology wisely. Make sure the time you spend on the cell phone, social media and email is an investment in the kingdom. Don’t waste time with arguments on social media that do not glorify God. Use technology as a means to share the Gospel. Also, put the cell phone down and unplug from the Web in order to interact face-to-face with folks.
- Take time for yourself and for your family members. As a pastor, I’ve never heard anyone on their death bed say they wish they’d spent more time at work. I’ve heard numerous dying people say they wished they’d spent more time with their family members. Make kingdom investments by spending time with family members.
By implementing these suggestions, we will be following Paul’s admonition: “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:15-16, ESV).