Don’t Waste Your Time
Life is like a flower in the Springtime,
Budding and blooming in the breeze.
Don’t crush its beauty but always be kind,
Do a good deed, always try to please.
Life is like a vapor, spreading o’er the valley,
In a short time, it goes away.
So temporary, it’s gone tomorrow,
Make the right use of it today.
Life is like a storm-cloud with a booming thunder.
There’s lightning and hail and heavy rain.
Soon it will pass, no need to wonder,
For we know the sun will shine again.
Life is like a journey; It has an ending.
We carefully chart the course to find.
Our footprints we leave, our message we are sending
To those who follow us, not far behind.
Then don’t waste your time; its use confine
Not for yourself alone, this resign.
Walk with God in perfect peace of mind,
Helping the lost, the way to find.
This poem was written by my wife’s father, O.D. Wilson, many years ago but is still sage advice. When we contemplate our “purpose of life” do we think about how we spend our time? Do we consider the fact that we know not how much time we may have? As Christians, do we stop to consider that our “duty” in this life is to help others know what they need to know what to do to become “children of God”? Do we use our time getting “ready” and “able” to answer folks who ask of God’s plan for man? In 1Peter 3:15 we are told how we are to prepare ourselves and help others. But sanctify (set apart) the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
The Spirit had Paul remind his protégé’ Timothy of the fact that he (Paul) had not “wasted his time” after his conversion. In 2Timothy 3:10-11 we see that the young preacher had a stellar example of how to live, even in the face of persecution. But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, 11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. Of course, Paul’s “doctrine” was not his, but that which was given him by the Spirit and which Paul had the privilege to deliver to the benefit of all who would listen and would obey.
The Lord, in Matthew 28:18-20, told His apostles that which has come to be known as the “Great Commission”. Even the wording of this commission, given before the kingdom came, shows its perpetual nature. Therefore, it is applicable today, as we live in the New Testament age – the kingdom age. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Could it ever be a “waste of time” to do what Jesus “commanded”?
Can we say we are following the Great Commission if we are not declaring the gospel to all who will hear? Do we consider what it is we preach and teach as we try to fulfill that commission? Can anyone “fulfill” that commission with the “wrong kind” of preaching? Is not the wrong kind of preaching a waste of time?
Part of our “obedience” is to not “waste our time”, but to work to maintain the Salvation we have in Christ. The Philippians were instructed of this from the pen of Paul as directed by the Spirit in Philippians 2:12. Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
Think about it. Can we maintain our salvation, or help others learn how to become the children of God as the purpose for their lives if the “kind of preaching we need” is not offered? If we worship in such a place, we have indeed wasted our time there. Make sure that where you worship, God’s Word is peached and followed. If it is not, how will you know how to be pleasing to God? If you leave this earth not pleasing to God – You have wasted your time. Time is short! Obey the gospel today before your time runs out!
Dennis Strickland – Mooresville church of Christ
