And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear. – 1 Peter 1:17
A few years ago, while writing my first book on folktales, I was invited to speak to my daughter’s school class. After my presentation, she said, “Thank you, Dad. See you tomorrow.” The teacher then inquired, “Is he not going to be home tonight?” Her answer was, “No. He works until very late and I miss the stories he used to tell me before he started writing his book.”
That was a wake-up call. Trying to finish my book while also working full-time had distracted me from my relationship with my daughter, which was of much more importance to me than any book. Yet, my daughter could not envision me being at home before she went to bed. Although this was happening for a period of less than a month, it was long enough for my six-year-old daughter to miss the stories I told her before bed. I realized I needed to let go of my agenda and realign my priorities.
My excess was in working too much, but there are many activities that can negatively affect our relationships with family members. Consider the fact that spending two hours per day on one activity translates to a total of five years by age sixty. There are many things we could do in five years’ time, but what will we have to show for it? Today’s focus verse says that we will be judged according to our works, which includes our choices about how we use time. We need to think about what we are doing and make these decisions carefully.
The key to spending time wisely is to set the right priorities and have balance in our schedules. Family members are some of the most important people in our lives; they are our first mission field for the Lord. Our relationships with them will affect our relationship with God and vice versa. Anything that takes away from our connection with family and God is potentially dangerous to our spiritual health, so they cannot be given the leftover time after everything else is done. We need to put first things first!