Making Use Of Our Time Through Wisdom
Title: Wisdom
Artist: Titian
Date: 1560
We have been in a series called "One More" at The Rock. The whole concept is based on wanting one more person to find what matters, which really means making a decision to take their next step. It's simple to understand but difficult to execute. Some of you may have asked, in the midst of the chaos of your days, how in the world are you supposed to get the opportunity to help one more person find what matters?
If you are like me - every day feels like it is filled to the brim with responsibilities.
Here is a general run down of my day.
6:00 am - Wake up and get the girls ready for daycare.
7:00 - Get myself ready for work + connect time
8:00 - Whatever else I need to do to set up that day and drive to work.
8:30–5 pm - Work.
5:30 - Workout
6:30 - Dinner
7:30 - Bedtime routines
9:00 - Finally/maybe get time with Katie or myself
10:00 - Pick up the house before bed
11:00 - Go to bed.
Where is the time? And I am a Pastor! It’s legit my job!
But Colossians 4 teaches us that there is a way to utilize our time, no matter how much or how little, to help others find what matters.
Colossians 4:5 ESV
“Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.”
The best way to use time with outsiders is to walk in wisdom. There is a correlation between wisdom and time management. It doesn't matter if it involves people, your job, your goals, or your family—if I could say it this way: The wise person uses time, the foolish person wastes time.
So, how do we ensure that we are making the best use of our time with outsiders by walking in wisdom?
Personal Study.
One of my greatest pet peeves is when people say they don't feel like they are being fed. Well, guess what? For most people, you are in a position where it's time to feed yourself. You do that through personal study of God's word, resources, podcasts, etc. Sure, you might need resources on where to find trustworthy ones. But it's up to you to pick up the food and put it in your mouth. Think about it this way. The wisest people you know are not magically wise. They are wise because of the experiences they have given themselves. This could be through life experience or studying someone else's experiences. Doesn't matter. They learned from resources and applied it to their lives.
2. Proper valuation of time.
Wise people always seem to know what is worth their time and what isn't, and that's how they make the best use of their time.
This is a wild example, but it makes sense in this context.
Shannon Sharpe knows his time is valuable, so he better not waste it. What about you? Are you wasting time on pointless dribble, or are you bringing value to your life through the way that you are spending your moments?
That doesn’t mean you can’t watch sports, play video games, engage in pointless conversations, or watch crappy tv shows. You just know when to do it and when not to do it.
Even with people, there are going to be times when you have to say, "This is not the time, and that is okay." Being present is more valuable than being persistent in that scenario. Don't take away time that you could have by wasting time that you do have.
3. Perspective towards outsiders.
I find the use of the term "outsiders" to be fascinating. This means there is a recognition of where you are and where they are. How many times have we wasted time trying to get people to a place they aren't ready to go yet? Rather than trying to get them on your spiritual level, you should get on their level and understand their needs in the moment. Jesus was the undisputed GOAT at this. The Gospels are story after story of Jesus meeting people where they are to help them get to where he wants them to go. In fact, isn't that the opposite of what the Pharisees were doing to the people at that time? The result of being pharisaical in that manner leads to people feeling like they truly are outsiders and can never be a part of what we are trying to do.
I want us all to walk in wisdom toward outsiders because I want "One More" person to find what matters. Time is short, and our moments of opportunity are shorter. Whether at your job, practice, or home, have you been wise in those situations by making the best use of your time? Let's take the time to personally study, properly value time, and have the proper perspective towards outsiders. People will see our wisdom, and through that, our effectiveness will be increased.
About the Artwork
Title: Wisdom
Artist: Titian
Date: 1560
Where is this at: Biblioteca Marciana, Venice, Italy
Fun Fact: This was above his entrance to his library. Pretty cool to see the correlation of wisdom and a library.