Just lately I seem to be pre-occupied with time. As one gets older, it is
inevitable that you see your life on this earth as becoming shorter. So my
pre-occupation is to value that time and to become aware that a gift of
time, given or received, is most precious. And uppermost in my thoughts is
that desire to give my time willingly to the best cause possible and, when
accepting a gift of time from someone, to treasure it and employ it wisely.
Fulton J. Sheen, the Roman Catholic archbishop and broadcaster, summed it
up so well when he said: ¬Every moment comes to you pregnant with a divine
purpose; time being so precious that God deals it out only second by
second. Once it leaves your hands and your power to do with it as you
please, it plunges into eternity, to remain forever what you made it. ®
Some time ago I had need of assistance and a friend very kindly agreed to
help me for a day. Now that was an act of true Christian kindness to give
me a day of his life, for that is what it was. As Archbishop Sheen pointed
out, that day was precious and my friend chose to give it to me. Since my
retirement from remunerated ministry I have been able to give my time in
several ways – by regularly assisting with pulpit supply during holidays or
sickness and through my computer ministry with Word for the Week and by
editing and producing Kids World. Regardless of how effective that
assistance and ministry has been I am constantly reminded that my gift of
time is valuable. It has «plunged into eternity and I believe that I have
made something of it.
The Apostle Paul would, I m sure, have valued time. During his
incarceration he would have had plenty of opportunity to dwell upon it.
His letters, written in freedom and as a prisoner, constitute about one
third of the New Testament. In his first letter to Timothy he said,
¬Command them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and
ready to share with others ® (6:18). We tend to think of giving only in
monetary terms but I m sure that Paul was urging young Timothy to also
share his time and to value it.
As we get older and perhaps have some of this very precious commodity of
time to do with as we please we would do well to value it highly and use it
to good advantage. We all deserve a good measure of fun and relaxation but
let us be generous with time. There are so many people around us who would
benefit from our experience, our compassion and our help. Let time remain
forever something positive that we have made of it.
Have a good week. Pastor Ron
Optional Bible reading: 1 Timothy 6:11-21
This is one of a series of weekly messages of encouragement, now in its
fourth year, originating from the Derwent Valley, near Hobart, Tasmania,
Australia. A companion Bible study page is available each week. To
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Pastor Ron Clarke JP (Mark 16:15)
An e-mail from the Derwent Valley, near Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
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