Time Stewardship

We all receive the same time allotment each day. Time is something that is equitably distributed, though we all spend time in different ways. How we spend our time reflects the things we care about. We will make time for the things that are important to us.

Some people think “time is money” meaning any loss or waste of time is a loss or waste of money. These people see time as a wealth generation tool. Others see time as fleeting, so they pack it with things to do, see, and places to go. In this case they are maximizing their experiences because there never seems to be enough time in the day to do all their heart desires. Yet there are still others that also see time as something to savor. They enjoy living a simplistic life that embraces making family memories, slow mornings with time to snuggle with loved ones, deep conversations, lowered stress levels. They see time as precious and refuse to let busyness steal their quality of time.

You may see yourself in one of these categories or even a mix or something entirely different. One thing remains the same, our time on earth is a limited gift from God.

The Bible teaches us “to number our days” (Psalms 90:12). The Hebrew phrase “to number” is “mânâh and it means to allot or constitute officially; …appoint, count, number, prepare, set, tell.” (https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h4487/kjv/wlc/0-1/ )

This phrase elicits the idea that we should take control of our time and not let time control us. We are to “allot” (portion out) and “constitute officially” (to compose formally) our days. I can sense all my fellow Type A personalities light up because we like to plan. For those who are more go-with-the-flow, you don’t have to have your whole day planned out like a well calculated vacation itinerary, but we are called to steward our time well. What that looks like is between you and God.

Ephesian 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.” Paul encourages us to make the best use of our time. Other translations say to “redeem” the time. To redeem is to buy back, “to make wise and sacred use of every opportunity for doing good, so that zeal and well doing… are the…money by which we make the time our own” https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g1805/kjv/tr/0-1/

Redeem the time. Make the time our own. 

How do we redeem the time? Especially, time that seems to be lost. Have you ever considered that God can expand your time much like He stretches funds when we tithe?

Tithing is one area that God says we can test Him. “Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.” (Malachi 3:10).

I love this verse because God can do more with 90% of our income than we can do with 100% of it. And much like tithing, He can extend time when we steward it properly and for His purposes.

This may sound counterintuitive, but I have seen more time be added to a week by giving time away in service to God.

In 2018 I had been devoting myself to the study of God’s word and felt the calling to service, but I was in school full time and worked part time. I also had a family with a husband and two boys who needed me. I felt like everyone was sacrificing so that I could finish my degree, and I did not feel that I had a lot of free time. If I wasn’t working or caring for the kids, I would be studying.

My husband received a call from our church because he volunteered for VBS over the summer. They were inquiring if we would be willing to teach a Sunday School class. When my husband presented the request to me, he said he was going to tell them no because he knew my schooling was already taking a lot of time and effort.

I immediately said yes, and his surprised look said it all. How was I going to manage taking on this extra task? I just expressed full trust in the Lord. I told him that I believed God would not let my other responsibilities fail if I was offering up something to Him that was sacrificial.

I had no idea how much God was going to bless me. My current situation with school was that I was just barely making it each week to turn in all my work. Now, I was dedicating one hour on Sunday to teaching and another couple of hours in the week to prepare the lesson. To my utter surprise, even after adding three hours to my schedule, I was also able to complete all my schoolwork each week one day before it was due. Which meant that I would get a full day of rest each week that I had not gotten before. Hallelujah!

Did I somehow become better at time management during that season? Maybe. But I believe Yahweh gifted me with a full twenty-four hours of rest because I sacrificed three hours for a purpose He had called me to and my trust in Him opened the storehouse of blessing.

“give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you” (Luke 6:38).

Bless His Name! Yahweh is so faithful.

What is God calling you to do with your time? Is He calling you to devote your time to a cause? Maybe He is simply asking you to stop doing so much and sit still in His presence. Whatever He is asking of you, I would encourage you to embrace His call to steward your time well. It is a gift you have been given to use for His glory.