Time Sensitive

I received a piece of post today which had the words 'Time Sensitive' stamped on the envelope.

 

It got me thinking about how most things in life are time-sensitive.  Or about how most of us are sensitive about our time.

 

There is never enough of it.

 

There are always things clamouring for our attention and our time: emails which are flagged as 'urgent' (usually with capitalisation for added effect); deals and offers which are only available for a limited period; and letters which remind you of how sensitive the issue of time is.

 

To ask someone for their time, or to be asked to give your time is a big ask.

 

We've all been caught out by the line, "It will just take a minute of your time", only to find ourselves nearly an hour later in the same conversation, or in the same meeting with no discernible end in sight.

 

Time is a precious gift.

 

No wonder we are sensitive about it.

 

The Bible encourages us to make the most of every opportunity and not to let our time be wasted and taken up with meaningless things:

"Don’t waste your time on useless work, mere busywork, the barren pursuits of darkness [...] So watch your step.  Use your head.  Make the most of every chance you get.  These are desperate times!"

 

[Ephesians 5:11, 15 MSG]

 

The most important thing we can do with our time is to spend it on getting to know God and understanding who we are in Him.  The Bible says,

"It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for."

[Ephesians 1:11 MSG]

 

It is in Christ that we find our meaning and our purpose.  It is in Christ that we find our identity and our acceptance.  It is in Christ that we find God's love and grace and forgiveness.  And it is in Christ that we find the strength and the peace to live each day and to love others. 

 

Now that's a time-sensitive issue.