Invest what you are given: Your time

QUANTICO, VA, UNITED STATES

03.23.2018

Story by Frances Seybold 

Marine Corps Base Quantico

In my day planner there is a quotation from Benjamin Franklin that reads, “Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that’s the stuff that life is made of.” So let’s consider some thoughts about time. First, every person is given the same amount of time. Each day everyone is given 24 hours to spend as they see fit. Second, while time cannot be saved, it can be invested. Third, time is often divided into past, present, and future. I believe that our primary focus should be on the present. Our future destination is based on our present decisions.
So how are you using your time? The Bible says in Ephesians 5:15-16 “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” The first decision we need to make is to decide what our priorities will be. Once we make that decision we can spend our time according to the priorities we have set. The change to Daylight Savings Time is a good time for us to evaluate how we are spending our time.
My 3rd Marine Division Commander Gen. Roberson shared his priorities in a letter to the Division when I was Chaplain with 2nd Battalion 3rd Marines. His priorities were God first, family second and work third. He included his reasoning in his letter, saying that God was first because that was an eternal commitment. Family was second because while he loved being a Marine, there would be one day when he would retire from active duty yet would still remain a son, a husband, and a father. His third priority was his work. His priorities were based on what he considered to be most important. And the importance of his priorities was largely based on time. I remember publishing his letter across our battalion. What he wrote made sense to me then. Thirteen years later it makes even more sense to me now.
There is a connection between time and money. Our use of these commodities reveal what is important to us. The Bible teaches about tithing our money. If you want to get really radical you could consider tithing your time as well as your money. There are a 168 hours a week so a time tithe would mean 16.8 hours given to God through other-centered activities.
We also need to be aware of the time thieves that are out there. Television for me is top on the list! It is easy to get involved in a television program that you really did not plan on watching. Another time thief are video games. They are fun but can be addictive. Another is the computer and social media. While time spent in these activities can be productive, they can often be a waste of time.
So how can we better use our time? Here are a couple of things that can help. The first is realizing that the enemy of the best is often the good. With this understanding you can work to establish the priorities that we mentioned earlier focusing on what you believe to be best. Second, take some time to determine your destination. Where do you want to be a month, six months, a year and five years from now? Having a destination will help you evaluate your use of time and how best to invest it to help you reach your goal. Finally, a question that you can ask yourself to help keep you on track during the day is, “What is the best use of my time right now?” Using our time to the best advantage can be challenging, but the rewards are well worth the effort. The Bible says in Psalms 90:12 to “teach us to number our days that we may present to You (God) a heart of wisdom.” It is my prayer that each of us would do just that.

• Date Taken: 03.23.2018
• Date Posted: 03.23.2018 12:27
• Story ID: 270427
• Location: QUANTICO, VA, US