Hey everyone!
I have always had the impression that someday when we stand before God, we will have to give an account of everything we've done with the resources He gives us. (If anyone could provide a Scripture, please feel free to do so--I found the passage that says we'll have to give an account for "every idle word" but did not find one specifically about time.)
The concept of time as a resource has always intrigued me because I see it as "The Great Equalizer." Everything else in life is variable, such as money, employment, family, social class, looks, talent, skills, personality, etc., but, for any human being who is destined to live through a day, we are all given the same thing and in the exact same amount: 24 hours.
What do you do with yours?
As with most things in my life, how I spend my time is pretty much a dichotomy: when working and taking care of responsibilities, I give it everything I can muster... but in my down time, I'm often happy to crash and not move from one spot for long stretches. But in the back of my mind, the thought is always lingering... "How am I going to tell God I spent the last two days doing nothing but watching movies and surfing the internet? What would God think of how I'm spending my time right now?"
I understand there is a need for rest. But when does "rest" slide downhill into "laziness"? I feel privileged to be around a small subset of amazingly motivated (and inhumanly energetic) people. I have a friend who's poured all her spare time for the past 5 years into earning degrees, passing intense exams, and finally, starting her own business (all this while raising children and a household, getting married, dealing with extended family, and working a full-time job.) I also have a family member who rarely allows her kids to watch TV or movies (maybe one TV show every other day, if that, and maybe a movie every few months), and video games aren't allowed at all, but in the meantime... her kids have become fluent in a second language with characters that are completely different from English that they can easily speak, read, and write. These kids also have very active social and play times so they lead very well-balanced lives--it's not a matter of being pushed too hard, it's simply a decision over how their free time will be spent.
When I hear about such accomplishments, I feel amazed and inspired. But I also feel... very guilty. And, even more so, I feel tired.
In an effort to try to make the best use of the time God has given me, I've developed my own "chart" of weekly categories I try to participate in, 20 minutes at a time, 3 times per week for each category. Some of my ambitions include "Exercise", "Bible reading/prayer", "Sewing", "Learning Phrases/Words in Spanish", "Answering Emails", "Research" (about a topic I'm interested in, etc.), "Special Project", and so forth. These are all in addition to my regular chores and responsibilities of everyday life. I try my best to do a little each day.
But do you want to know the awful truth? More often than not... my list gets thrown by the wayside. And I wonder if God is thinking that I'm wasting His time. Because I'm certainly not starting any businesses or becoming fluent in another language or even finishing the letter I started writing... last week.
So, as I asked before: How much time are we allowed to waste? And what is your definition of needed down time/vs. just plain wasting time? Most of us like to unwind by watching TV, listening to music, or playing games--but how much is enough to recharge vs. using it to avoid other things we should be doing? For example... is 2 hours of television or Facebook enough to relax... But what if it turns into 6 hours? Where is the line between resting... and becoming a couch potato?
Do you feel you should be making better use of your time? How are you spending your time now, and what do you believe you SHOULD be spending it on? Do you have a plan to change your behavior, or have you already made changes? Do you have any suggestions for better time management, including what does or doesn't work for you? (I find that I have to write out a "schedule" for each day, with time ranges loosely written in, such as, "Read Bible, Mop Floors, Exercise, Wash Dishes, 7-9 AM, Work, 10-6", or I will sit down in front of the TV, computer, or a book, etc. and never get anything else done. But if I have a visual "plan", it helps me stick to it a little better.)
To tell you the truth... as soon as I finish writing this, I really want to go turn on some kind of educational show and lose track of time for the next two hours... or more. But I always wonder... if God is beckoning me to do something a bit more productive.
How about all of you?
I have always had the impression that someday when we stand before God, we will have to give an account of everything we've done with the resources He gives us. (If anyone could provide a Scripture, please feel free to do so--I found the passage that says we'll have to give an account for "every idle word" but did not find one specifically about time.)
The concept of time as a resource has always intrigued me because I see it as "The Great Equalizer." Everything else in life is variable, such as money, employment, family, social class, looks, talent, skills, personality, etc., but, for any human being who is destined to live through a day, we are all given the same thing and in the exact same amount: 24 hours.
What do you do with yours?
As with most things in my life, how I spend my time is pretty much a dichotomy: when working and taking care of responsibilities, I give it everything I can muster... but in my down time, I'm often happy to crash and not move from one spot for long stretches. But in the back of my mind, the thought is always lingering... "How am I going to tell God I spent the last two days doing nothing but watching movies and surfing the internet? What would God think of how I'm spending my time right now?"
I understand there is a need for rest. But when does "rest" slide downhill into "laziness"? I feel privileged to be around a small subset of amazingly motivated (and inhumanly energetic) people. I have a friend who's poured all her spare time for the past 5 years into earning degrees, passing intense exams, and finally, starting her own business (all this while raising children and a household, getting married, dealing with extended family, and working a full-time job.) I also have a family member who rarely allows her kids to watch TV or movies (maybe one TV show every other day, if that, and maybe a movie every few months), and video games aren't allowed at all, but in the meantime... her kids have become fluent in a second language with characters that are completely different from English that they can easily speak, read, and write. These kids also have very active social and play times so they lead very well-balanced lives--it's not a matter of being pushed too hard, it's simply a decision over how their free time will be spent.
When I hear about such accomplishments, I feel amazed and inspired. But I also feel... very guilty. And, even more so, I feel tired.
In an effort to try to make the best use of the time God has given me, I've developed my own "chart" of weekly categories I try to participate in, 20 minutes at a time, 3 times per week for each category. Some of my ambitions include "Exercise", "Bible reading/prayer", "Sewing", "Learning Phrases/Words in Spanish", "Answering Emails", "Research" (about a topic I'm interested in, etc.), "Special Project", and so forth. These are all in addition to my regular chores and responsibilities of everyday life. I try my best to do a little each day.
But do you want to know the awful truth? More often than not... my list gets thrown by the wayside. And I wonder if God is thinking that I'm wasting His time. Because I'm certainly not starting any businesses or becoming fluent in another language or even finishing the letter I started writing... last week.
So, as I asked before: How much time are we allowed to waste? And what is your definition of needed down time/vs. just plain wasting time? Most of us like to unwind by watching TV, listening to music, or playing games--but how much is enough to recharge vs. using it to avoid other things we should be doing? For example... is 2 hours of television or Facebook enough to relax... But what if it turns into 6 hours? Where is the line between resting... and becoming a couch potato?
Do you feel you should be making better use of your time? How are you spending your time now, and what do you believe you SHOULD be spending it on? Do you have a plan to change your behavior, or have you already made changes? Do you have any suggestions for better time management, including what does or doesn't work for you? (I find that I have to write out a "schedule" for each day, with time ranges loosely written in, such as, "Read Bible, Mop Floors, Exercise, Wash Dishes, 7-9 AM, Work, 10-6", or I will sit down in front of the TV, computer, or a book, etc. and never get anything else done. But if I have a visual "plan", it helps me stick to it a little better.)
To tell you the truth... as soon as I finish writing this, I really want to go turn on some kind of educational show and lose track of time for the next two hours... or more. But I always wonder... if God is beckoning me to do something a bit more productive.
How about all of you?
