Are You A Difference Maker?

My grandfather passed away when he was 89 years old and before he passed he offered me a bit of advice. He told me that life goes by pretty fast. He did not say too much after that, he was a man of few serious words. However, I knew he was implying that time moves fast, use it wisely. We had the conversation several years back and it rings more true to me today than it did back then. Life does go by pretty fast.

James 4:14 tells us, How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog – it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. (NLT)

Psalm 102:11 says, My life passes as swiftly as the evening shadows. I am withering away like grass. (NLT)

Benjamin Franklin, one of the most noteworthy people from America’s past, told us that, Lost time is never found again.

If you really want to make a difference in this world, you need to a grasp the importance of time. Time is your most precious asset. Once it is spent, you cannot get it back. When you say “yes” to something you are saying “no” to something else.

Life throws all kind of things your way that will demand your time. Work, hobbies, sports, list is endless of all the things wanting your time. With all of this screaming for your attention, how can a person make a good choice? Take a look at this parable of Jesus found in Luke 12…

13 Then someone called from the crowd, “Teacher, please tell my brother to divide our father’s estate with me.”
14 Jesus replied, “Friend, who made me a judge over you to decide such things as that?” 15 Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.”
16 Then he told them a story: “A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. 17 He said to himself, ‘What should I do? I don’t have room for all my crops.’ 18 Then he said, ‘I know! I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. 19 And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!”’
20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’
21 “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.” (NLT)

Here is a rich man who felt like he had plenty, so he was going to take it easy and enjoy the rest of his life. But what he did not realize was that his life was quickly coming to an end. He had invested so much of this time accumulating wealth that he had missed out on things that really matter; a rich relationship with God.

We all have heard the saying that when a person is on his death bed, he does not ask that he be surrounded with all of his trophies, certificates, and accomplishments. No, he wants to be surrounded by his friends and family: those who loved him and whom he loves.

So I encourage you, with whatever amount of time you have left, assess how you are spending it. Are you spending it on things that will perish in the end? Or are you investing it in a rich relationship with God and a rich relationship with your loved ones?

In what ways are you going to use your time more wisely from now on?

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