I used to teach high school students, and inevitably one or two would come to class without homework. I generally did not accept excuses because I always told them the same mantra, “You had twenty-four hours to do your homework, just like everyone else. It was your choice to not use part of that time to complete your assignment.” That same mantra applies to each of us.

This meme puts things into perspective, doesn’t it? Who gives us these 86,000 seconds every day? God does, of course! Now, you will be saying that at least 7-8 of those hours are spent sleeping. Okay, fine! You now have 16-17 hours to use wisely. How are you using your time? Break it down…TV, making meals, eating, reading, work, etc. Then, ask yourself if you are giving God a tithe of your time. That seems hard to do, doesn’t it? It might mean giving up watching a show on TV or reading a favorite book. But giving God your time doesn’t mean necessarily that you are sitting or kneeling and reading your Bible and praying. You can be an active giver of your time to God!

Are you giving time totally unselfishly to someone else? Then offer that time as a sacrifice before the Lord and ask Him to bless it. Maybe you are cleaning up a neighbor’s yard or taking an elderly person to the store. Whatever you are doing for others is time that you are dedicating to God because you are His hands and feet on the earth! Did you ever think of time like that before?

If you read your Bible regularly, you are more than likely familiar with this Scripture that Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes. God has made a time for everything. He set the sun and moon in the skies, established the whole 24-hour day thing and has left us to do what we will with each day. But, like my students, we have to make wise choices. One of the most important things we can do is share God’s Word with others.

God gave us things that we are supposed to be doing, and they are supposed to be so near to our hearts that we can teach them no matter where we are. Our very important job, if we have children, is to teach God’s Word to them. We are not supposed to put it on the back burner, but to make it a central focus of our lives, no matter what we are doing. If we are sitting, if we are walking, when we are lying down and first thing in the morning, our minds should be established firmly on God and His Word. We cannot do what is right without knowing God’s Word. If you read the second Scripture above, you may be asking yourself what enemies you have to defeat. Well, think for a minute. Who is your enemy? Satan, of course! All of those annoying people are like chaff in the wind; they will soon blow away. However, Satan is always there, trying to trap and destroy you. But the Lord will drive him out before you so that you can prosper and enter the Promised Land, i.e. Heaven. You only have to call on the name of the Lord for Him to come to your aid. You have to know that truth before you can use it.

Knowing and using the Word that is God’s promise to you will get you out of trouble and help you to make wise choices with your time. Satan would just as well divert your attention on all kinds of things–anything except on God is His plan. It is up to us to make the choices that will defeat Satan daily. Yes! I said daily because that is how often Satan will come to you to try to get you to turn your attention away from God, His Word, sharing His Word, meditating on His Word, praying and doing good deeds. Your neighbor asks you for help to jump start his car. Satan whispers in your ear, “That’s not a good idea. After all, what has he ever done for you? And you are really busy today already, headed to work or on an errand. Just tell him that he can call a garage and you will give him the number.” Your reply to Satan should be to stand aside and then continue to do what God would tell you to do in the circumstance.

Choices with what you do with your time come every day, every hour, every minute, every second. Will you decide to tithe your time to God? He just wants to spend time with you, in a relationship with you, so close that you can hear His voice in your heart telling you what you should be doing. A task for God…no problem! We have plenty of time, don’t we? Think about it. Blessings for a day filled with good choices!