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by Elisha Ann Wahlquist, 2/22/2007

"She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness." (Pr. 31:27)

This verse talks about the importance of time. Matthew Henry's Commentary remarks on it:

"She [the virtuous woman] is one who takes pains in the duty of her place and takes pleasure in it. She hates to sit still and do nothing: She eats not the bread of idleness, v. 27. She is careful to fill up time, that none of that be lost."

Our spare moments are jewels of great price, that once they are past, are gone forever. These leisure moments can become the most profitable moments of our whole life if we use them wisely. Ben Franklin said, "Leisure is time for doing something useful," and we should view it as such.

"See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil." (Ephesians 5:15,16) [1]

The following list of dangerous time-wasters was found amoung the papers of Mary Lyons after her death, and I think it is a useful list to keep in mind. She guarded against:
  1. "Indefinite musings.
  2. Anticipating needlessly.
  3. Needless speculations.
  4. Indulgence in reluctance to begin a duty.
  5. In doubtful cases, not deciding at once.
  6. Musing needlessly on what has been said or done, or what may be.
  7. Spending time in reveries which should be spent in prayer."

Sometimes, we waste time merely because we are uneager to begin a certain task, or keep putting it off. I read somewhere that one lady's antidote for such jobs was that she would do that chore the very first thing in the morning. Then it would not be hanging over her head all day and "clogging up the works." Jennie Chancey adds an inspiring, helpful point:

""Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might." Whatever is next at hand - be it laundry, cooking, or sewing a velvet evening gown - I like to tackle it with joy, interest, and vigor. No work is drudgery when it is seen through the lens of Scripture. A life poured out to Christ and others is beautiful and life-giving. Even the days where "everything goes wrong" have their purpose: live, learn, and move on!" -Jennie Chancey  (from the www.sensibility.com FAQs page)

http://pub34.bravenet.com/faq/show.php?usernum=2853307165&catid=2620

It is easy, however, to fall into the trap of mere busyness instead of actual time-redeeming industriousness. If we are always rushing about, doing half a million things, we may not be redeeming our time-we may be actually wasting it by neglecting our primary responsibilities. I encourage you to step back and review what you do in a day or week. Did you take care of your biblical priorities? Were you able to be the loving, peace-filled mother or sister that God created you to be-or were you flustered and frazzled with unnecessary rushing about? We all need to work on this, so don't feel discouraged if you notice things that need to improve. Tackle those time-wasters one at a time, and view those minutes as opportunities to use your time better! The following verse offers an encouraging exhortation:

"The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light." (Romans 13:12) [2]

There are many different ways that we can waste our time. I'm sure each one of us can think of activities and things that tempt us to squander large amounts of time. I know from my own girlhood that reading can fritter away a lot of time. There's nothing wrong with reading in itself-but many times we read when there are other, more important things that should be attended to. Even if you don't have any certain job at the moment, remember that human lives are far more important than any mere thing, and spending an hour playing with your little sister will reap more eternal benefit than if you had spent that time reading a pleasurable book. This is a hard area to "rein in," but I have found that I enjoy a book more now, when I am careful to read it only in true spare time. Before, it would sneak into all my spare moments and drag me down.

"Good reading has made scholars, philosophers, and statesmen; but worthless reading never made a decent man. With history, biography, and first-class literature, including the world's great poets, within the reach of all, it is worse than waste of time to read the average novel, which never did, and never can, make the reader better." -"Gaining Favor with God and Man," by Thayer

"But this I say, brethren, the time is short:" (1 Corinthians 7:29a)

Our time here on earth is transient and fleeting. [3] At the end of our life, will we look back with regret at all the hours we have wasted? I hope not! I pray that God will give each of us the grace to redeem the time He gives us, and use it wisely!

Footnotes:
[1] "Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time." (Colossians 4:5)
[2]"How do I pity those who complain that time hangs heavy upon their hands. Let them but love Christ, and spend their whole time in His service, and they will find no dull, melancholy hours." -George Whitfield
[3]"Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away." (James 4:14)