The Preciousness of Time

As we enter into this new year I do so thinking about the spiritual disciplines and how I need to pursue them with greater effort over the coming days and months. Foundational to all the disciplines is the wise and careful use of time. Jonathan Edwards knew the importance of how we are to respond to the time given us by God, regarding which Donald Whitney has helpfully commented:

At the root of all discipline is the disciplined use of time. Without this one, there are no other disciplines. Edwards recognized this early on, and thus three of the very first of his famous Resolutions--in this case, numbers 5-7--were on the stewardship of time:

5. Resolved, never to lose one moment of time, but to improve it in the most profitable way I possibly can.

6. Resolved, to live with all my might, while I do live.

7. Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do if it were the last hour of my life.

One of Edward's best-known and most soul-searching sermons is on this very subject. In December 1734 he preached on "The Preciousness of Time and the Importance of Redeeming It." Taking the words "redeeming the time" from Ephesians 5:16 as his text, Edwards reminded his listeners that time is the only brief preparation we have for all eternity. This time is short, it is passing, the remaining amount of it is uncertain, and whatever time is lost can never be regained. We will give an account to God of how we use our time, Edwards noted, and our precious time is so easily lost. In the most solemn section of the sermon, Edwards called his hearers to consider how people on their deathbed, and especially those in hell, long to have the time that we have at this moment, and how we ought to use our time as they would, if they had the opportunity." ("Pursuing a Passion for God Through Spiritual Disciplines: Learning from Jonathan Edwards," Donald S. Whitney; in--A God Entranced Vision of All Things: The Legacy of Jonathan Edwards, John Piper and Justin Taylor--General Editors, Crossway Books, pages 123-124)

Time is indeed precious. I am particularly struck by the observations made by Edwards that it is "the only brief preparation we have for all eternity", that "time is short, it is passing, the remaining amount of it is uncertain, and whatever time is lost can never be regained." Moreover, "we will give account to God of how we use our time", and that "our precious time is so easily lost."

How will we, how will I, use the time God gives us this new year? Pray that it will be redeemed well. The eternal implications of this for our lives are enormous.