How do you view time? Something to be chased? Something to find? Something to dream about? Something to be lost? What about something to be quantified?
Here's another question: Would you say you are a good steward of your time?
I always thought I spent my 24 hours per day pretty wisely—I took time for work, time for play, time for friends and family, and had enough left over to sleep. Of course I could always use a little more sleep but for the most part, I was pretty proud of myself. And of course, just as I was getting comfortable with my time-keeping abilities, I got a new job.
It was for a consulting firm—one that billed in 15-minute increments. Since we charged our services out to several companies at once, we needed to meticulously pencil into a logbook each phone call, email, and physical work we did.
At first I found the task not only overwhelming but a bit needless. Who cared whom I spoke to at 10:15 for seven minutes or which company's data I entered from 12:35-2:44? I sure didn't and as long as my work was completed at the end of the week, it didn't seem like my boss cared too much either.
My attitude towards logging my life wasn't great until one day a client called up to dispute a bill. Amazed, I watched my boss go over the charges, point by point, and compare them to our logged timesheets. As quickly as each disputed charge came up, it was dispersed. Finally understanding why this was an important task, my attitude towards tracking my every minute at work changed. How I used my time in the office directly impacted our clients' bills and just as my boss needed to be accountable to clients, I needed to be accountable for how I spent my time.
Have you ever logged your life in 15-minute increments? At first it feels incredibly constraining, but if you submit to the process and use your time wisely, it can actually be quite liberating. You are able to stand behind your actions with no fear or shame. You know you will be able to face any dispute because you've kept careful record. You are certain you are being a good steward of your time.
Often we connect being a good steward as tithing at church or to charity, but it's so much more than that. “Stewardship” refers to the management of affairs, property, or supplies with proper regard to rights of others.
Think about it like this: life is short and each day we have is a gift. “Teach us to make the most of our time, so that we may grow in wisdom” (Psalm 90:12 NLT). Thinking of our time this way inspires us to use the little time we have wisely. When we use our time wisely, we can be confident our days will be meaningful.
There is nothing wrong with playing or relaxing or having fun when you know your actions are pleasing to God. However, there is something to be said for wasting time or over committing our free time. We know when there are better ways to use the hours in a day and when we aren't being good stewards of our time, our hearts always seem to let us know.
It's easy to ask God for what we want while putting little time into reflecting on what He has already given us, or considering what we can give back to Him. “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:6-7).
Whether it's time, money, food, or other resources, stewardship is not only about accepting personal responsibility for taking care of something entrusted to you, but having a cheerful attitude about it. “The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart,” (1 Samuel 16:7).
When I look back at my time at the consulting firm I am glad I had the experience of tracking my time so exactly. It taught me a lot about how easy it is to waste time, and also showed me I didn't use my minutes as productively as I thought. It was a humbling experience. This month I challenge you to look critically at how you use your time. Sure, logging every second of every day is extreme but if you were to track your time—even for a day or two—you might be surprised by your spending habits.
