"You’ve heard the expression, “Time is money.” Maybe your boss uses it to remind you that when you waste time at work, you are actually wasting his money, since he is buying your time with his money.
But we can reverse that sentence and create an equally true statement that, “Money is time.” That is, whenever we spend money, we are also spending our time. That’s because it takes time to earn the money we spend.
To apply this concept, consider the amount of time you will need to work to replace the money you will spend on an item. For example, if you make $12 per hour, after taxes and 10% tithe you may only net about $8 per hour. That means if you want a $160 electronic gadget, you will have to work 20 hours, or half your workweek just to buy it.
Time is money and money is time. God wants you to spend both of these valuable resources wisely so you will redeem the time.
"
"January 20, 2009 was a disturbing day for me. That was the day President Obama was sworn in to office. Now before you think I’m getting too political, let me explain.
President Obama was born August 4, 1961. I was born August 3, 1961. That meant I was now one day older than the President of the United States. This was a new paradigm for me to deal with. US Presidents had always been people from a different generation. Now I was older than the leader of my country.
This fact reminded me of the many Scriptures which warn us of the swift passing of life. Some day, you will notice that policemen look like little boys, your doctor will be younger than you are, you will become older than your pastor, till eventually, like me, you will be older than the President.
However, don’t let this discourage you. Rather, use it as a reminder that life is short, so you must redeem the time.
"
"We redeem the time when the way we use our time each day is an accurate reflection of what matters most to us. Many people, including many Christians, live in a continual state of frustration because what we are doing with our time each day doesn’t match up with what really matters to us.
Benjamin Franklin recognized this problem early in his life and confronted it by clarifying, in writing, what things really mattered to him. He created a list of 13 character qualities around which he lived his life and used his time. This document served as a personal constitution around which he focused his activities each day in order to best achieve his life’s goals. That practice made Benjamin Franklin one of the most accomplished men in history.
God certainly desires that His children live productive lives each day. Taking time to create a personal mission statement, clarifying what matters most to you, will give you a powerful tool that will help you redeem the time.
"
"In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus made the point that God would take care of our material needs through the example of how He feeds the birds. From the moment of creation until today, God has always fed the birds. But He has never used a bird feeder. He has placed the responsibility on the bird to take some initiative and do some gathering.
As Christians, we sometimes need to be reminded that there is a price to pay for not initiating. God has something He wants to do through every one of His children. But many of us will never come close to experiencing His best because of a lack of initiative.
As you consider how you will spend your remaining time today, consider what things God has already shown you He wants to accomplish through you. Then, take the initiative to do something, no matter how small, to get moving on it. Don’t waste another moment or miss another blessing by failing to initiate, and thus failing to redeem the time.
"