Jump Start # 617

Ecclesiastes 3:1 “There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under Heaven.”

This sentence begins Solomon’s series of eight couplets about time. There is a time he says. The Byrds put music to these words and had a hit single with “Turn, turn, turn.” Folk singer, Jim Croce sang, ‘If I could put time in a bottle…’ We are certainly a people who are governed by time. There is a time to get up, often much earlier than we want to. There is a time to be at work. There is lunch time. During ball games there is half time and over time, and even time outs. It seems when a person is busy time flies. When a person is bored, time stands still. Waiting, whether in traffic, doctor’s offices, or for the kids to get in the car can be about all we can stand. Time moves the same during an action movie as it does during a sermon. Some how the sermon seems forever and the movie was short. We use expressions such as, “Where has the time gone,” or, “I’m out of time,” to define our busy lifestyles.

Today is June 1st. June is the half way mark of the year. The year is already half over. Funny thing, the older I get, the faster time seems to move. It also seems that the more crowded our lives become, that we are having to cut time somewhere. For some, it’s in the amount of sleep they get. That could explain why so many are cranky. Others, just leave off some details that require time. That can have an impact upon us spiritually. Relationships don’t get to the depth that they should, because that takes time. Prayer is quick, because there is not time. Thinking about God and His word is not given much attention, because there’s not enough time.

Take a breath and do some mid-year evaluations. The year is half over.

1. Have you gotten better this year as a person or are you about the same as before?

2. Have you grown spiritually this year or are you maintaining about the same level as before?

3. Are you engaging in any spiritual activities other than worship or is it about the same?

4. Are your reading the Bible more this year or is it about the same as last year?

5. Are you taking on new challenges spiritually or are you doing about the same as last year?

What happens so often is that we get busy with life and we fail to really live. Appointments and kids and things and stuff and duties and work and this and that fill our time and we simply get older but not better with each year.

You have before you the rest of the year. It’s only half over. Do you need to make some adjustments? Do you need to have a plan? Do you need to schedule some daily spiritual activity?

Solomon says there is a time. There is if we make it. Don’t except the idea that you are doing all that you can—strive for excellence. Peter told his readers to add “virtue” to their faith. That word means moral excellence. It is to strive for the best. Complacency and average are not acceptable with the spirit of virtue. Be the best you can for the rest of this year. This is why games have a half time. It is not just to give the players a chance to rest, it’s also a time for the coaches to make adjustments, talk to the players and motivate them to make the second half better than the first. Bob Burford wrote a wonderful book called, “Half time.” It’s about making the second half of your life better than the first. It’s a matter of choice.

Take on some new challenges. Learn something that will help you. Read something that will build your character. Do something that will make a difference to someone else. Pray like you have never prayed. Worship like you really mean it.

The year belongs to us. It will be what we make it. Just getting older or getting better?

There is a time—remember that.

Roger