Article - Time Marches On

Time Marches On

Go to now, ye that say, to day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
- James 4:13-14

Several years ago there was a popular county music song that dealt with the inevitability of time moving forward. It seems that one day you are a child with no cares in the world, and the next you are employed, married, and raising children of your own. I recently turned 30 and am acutely aware of how time flies. It seems like it was just yesterday that I was in my teenage years. Now, I have my own family (and even a few gray hairs). Some of my older friends have told me that time goes faster as you grow older. It certainly appears that way! There never seems to be enough time to do all that needs to be done. Days and weeks seem to fly by where they once seemed to crawl along at a snail’s pace. Time indeed marches on!
James addresses the celerity of time in his epistle to the churches scattered around Asia Minor. He states that our life is but a vapor. From birth to death our time is at best a wisp of air. It appears for a little time and then fades away. In spite of all our doctors and drugs and technology, the best we can really hope for is maybe 90-100 years on this earth. The reality is that we don’t really know what tomorrow has in store for us. It does not matter how grandiose our plans are for the future, they are framed within the vapor of our lives. The pertinent question for us is how are we going to use the wisp of air that comprises our lives?
I am afraid that many Christians have their priorities askew. Many of us are sacrificing our short lives for things that are not that significant. How do you spend your time? We oftentimes dedicate much of our time seeking financial gain and worldly notoriety. We must work and the Bible states that a man that does not provide for his own household has denied the faith and is worse than an infidel (2 Timothy 5:8). However, this should not be the focal point of our lives. Many have dedicated numerous hours beyond what is needed to provide for their families in order to amass material possessions. Families suffer because the father works 10-12 hour days and mothers are also away from the home to provide a second income. All of this results in a dereliction of our Christian duties and a neglect of our family responsibilities.
In Matthew 6:33 Jesus instructs us to, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” The “things” that shall be added includes food, drink, and clothing. The same God that feeds the birds and dresses the lilies will see to our needs as we seek to serve him. We must engage in secular work while we are in this world, but our first priority is to serve God. The blessings of Christian service far outweigh the worldly possessions and notoriety that result from pouring your all of your time into your career.
One aspect of first seeking the kingdom of God involves making your children a priority. How much time do you spend with them? Do you know what is going on in their lives? Who their friends are? What they are watching on the T.V./computer? Are you your child’s primary teacher? Are you teaching them biblical/spiritual principles? Scripture teaches that the parents have the responsibility to train up their children in the way that they should go (Proverbs 22:6). Deuteronomy 6 commands parents to diligently teach our children to love the Lord and keep his commandments. It is not a once-a-week responsibility, but a 24 hour-a-day duty. Parental responsibility is far more important than dual family incomes or working overtime to finance more carnal entertainment.
Time marches on and it passes quickly. How are you spending your days? Using your resources? I have been with several people who know that they were at the end of their lives. Never once have I met with anyone that wished they had worked more hours, built a bigger home, amassed more wealth. Their regrets have always focused upon the amount of time they spend in serving God. Some are sad that they did not spend more time in their youth worshipping the Lord and serving others. Others wish that they had spent more time with their children. God is gracious to bless us despite our shortcomings, but what will be your story at the end of life? Will you be regretful about how your spent your short life? It is my prayer that we would finish our lives like the Apostle Paul. Towards the end of his life he wrote, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: (2 Timothy 4:7)” It is never too late to focus your life on what matters most.