The Clock is Ticking
by Andy Perry

“ Time is free but it’s priceless. You can’t own it but you can use it. You can’t keep it but you can spend it. Once you’ve lost it, you can never get it back.” That statement was once made by Harvey MacKay, CEO of the MacKay Envelope Company, but, according to what we learned a few weeks ago in Luke 19, it could very well have been made by Jesus Christ. There He told His disciples the parable of the ten minas—about a wealthy landowner who went away and temporarily entrusted his wealth to his servants. They were each given the same amount, and the investments each made were assessed when the master returned. What primary wealth has our Lord entrusted to us which He will one day assess? Among other things our time and the choices we make every day with how best to use it.

Jesus wasn’t the only One in the Bible Who emphasized good stewardship of these few days on earth we’ve been given. Writing to the Ephesian Christians Paul said, “Look, then, carefully how you live, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:15-16) That’s a verse most of us are familiar with, and it compels us to make wise life choices in a similar way to the parable of the ten minas. “ Only one life, 'twill soon be past; Only what's done for God will last .” MacKay was right, time is priceless, and once it’s lost we can never get it back.

In light of all this, as Christians we should be very concerned about what we do with our time—not just the next hour but the next decade and beyond. But that choice is not always easy to make, especially in our affluent culture with so many choices before us. Everything I’ve been saying assumes that God has an opinion on this matter. He cares how we spend our time; how we invest our lives. God has a certain desire—a will—for our lives. But how can we know it? Of all the questions sincere Christians have, this one always rises to the top: “How can I be sure of God’s will for my life?” It’s an important question. You’re likely asking it in some area of your life right now. Should I get married, devoting much of my time to another person for the rest of my life? Should I accept that job offer in Orlando and move my family, spending much time investing in new relationships? Should we send our kids to public school, Christian school or homeschool? What is the most profitable use of their early years? Should we take the time and money to remodel our ugly bathroom or live with it and use the money to fund a mission trip? Should I teach Sunday School next fall or lead a Bible study on the MSU campus? Lord, how should I use my time? Sound familiar? We all ask ‘God’s will’ questions every day—some of them big and others small but all of them requiring us to make decisions.

How can we know which decision is God’s will? Over the centuries Christians have answered that question differently, often leading to confusion. For instance, some Christians tell us we need to discern God’s ‘perfect will’ for our lives in detail, and that if we don’t we’ll arrive in heaven one day to discover that we missed the life we were made for. Other Christians of the charismatic variety go farther, telling us we can discover God’s detailed plan through supernatural means such as prophecy, prayer or a ‘word of knowledge.’

The problem with both approaches is that they compel us to walk through life constantly under the pressure of conforming to a plan that depends upon the fallible intuition of ourselves or other people. Such approaches strip the Christian life of its intended freedom and joy and make us second guess our decisions at every turn. Isn’t there a better way? Yes. It is walking in the wisdom God has clearly given us, trusting Him to work out His perfect plan in our lives through His sovereign grace. Six simple (but not easy) steps can help us walk in the way of wisdom, equipping us to make godly decisions with confidence.

1. Gain the Mind of Christ
Romans 12:2 and I Corinthians 2:16 reveal the importance of having our thoughts shaped by Christ. How do we do that? 2 Timothy 3:16-17 has the answer: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is profitable for teaching, reproof, correction and training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.” When you have a decision to make, you must first ask the question, “Does the Bible give me direct guidance on this issue?” If so, then let it inform your decision .

2. Get the Wisdom of Others
Proverbs 19:20 says, “Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise.” Find the most godly, wise people you know and get their advice. The voice of experience often speaks wisely. Find it and listen well. Don’t look to others to make your decisions for you, but be wise to inform your decisions with godly counsel.

3. Enjoy Christian Liberty
If you have studied the Scriptures and consulted other wise Christians and have concluded that your decision falls outside the realm of what the Bible directly commands or prohibits, then, according to I Corinthians 8-9 and Romans 14-15, you have the freedom to make a wisely informed decision without fear of stepping outside the will of God. The certain will of God is determined only by the certain teaching of the Word of God. Commandments or prohibitions beyond God’s Word, either compelled upon us from false guilt within or from other Christians, takes us dangerously down the road toward Pharisaism. “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm, then, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1 )

4. Rest in God’s Sovereignty
One of the dangers of living under the weight of having to discern the specific will of God at every turn is the belief that the future of the world rests largely on our shoulders. Proverbs 16:9 says, “The heart of a man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” Not only does that truth remind us that human history in safely in God’s hands, it encourages us that God will use the choices we make to fulfill His will. Suddenly the pressure of having to minutely discern and perfectly walk out the unclear will of God disappears and is replaced with peace .

5. Accept Responsibility
When a decision needs to be made in life, we need to be willing to face it squarely and make it with confidence. Whether out of fear or laziness, avoiding a decision which needs to be made is ungodly and cowardly. We may receive counsel from others but not pass the buck that life has handed us. We need to accept responsibility for the decisions—even painful ones—in our lives that must be made .

6. Say ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ with Guilt-Free Confidence
Based on the first five principles, we’re ready to make a decision. Not only that, we need not continually second guess it or feel guilt for not going a different direction. If your decision is in line with the Bible and has been sifted by the counsel of the wise, you can freely choose without fear of living outside of God’s will or of being in sin. You do not have to live under the tyranny of thinking another choice might have been God’s ‘perfect will’ for your life. You can freely choose and know that God is pleased, that your mina is being invested well and that God will be glorified.

Harvey MacKay was right, our freest commodity in life is priceless: our time. How will we use it? As Christians we will use it to glorify our God and do His will. Not a will placed over us like an overbearing tyrant, demanding that we perfectly predict the future and take care to take the right steps at every turn. Rather, God’s will is clearly laid out for us in His Word. Staying close to it and those who love it most will give us the wisdom we need to make the right investments with the little time we have. The clock of time is ticking. So get wise, look to God, look to others, make the best decision you know how and then relax!