One of the most popular books in bookstores over the past 20 years is “All I Really Need to Know I Learned From Kindergarten”. About 10 years ago, someone wrote an article called “All I Really Need to Know I Learned from Noah’s Ark.” They were funny, but they definitely had a sense of practical wisdom. After reading it, I got to thinking, “What are the practical lessons of life I need to learn from Noah and how can I share them with my family?” I kept going back to making the most of my time.
Even if you didn’t grow up in church, it’s probably safe to say that most everyone knows the basic story of Noah’s Ark. Bad people, big boat, crazy Noah, flood, rainbow. If you’ve spent any time at all shopping in those “nick-knack” shops around town, they are most likely selling something with Noah’s Ark on it – dishes, posters, cookie jars, baby gifts, etc. I believe that we can all learn something from Noah.
The first statement from the article is this: Plan ahead. It wasn’t raining when Noah built the ark. That statement reminds me that there are two time fallacies. The first is that we’re going to have more time at some future date. And the second, that we can somehow save time. Neither of those are really true. Wise people plan ahead – in every area of their life. Physical health, finances, grocery shopping, a full tank of gas, etc. If you aren’t good at doing that, hang with people are and they can help you. I ran cross country in high school to stay in shape for pole-vaulting. I hated it and I always fooled myself into thinking, “I’ll let all these people pass me now, but I’ll sprint at the end and make it up. WRONG. Unless you plan out your race, you’ve lost before you even begin. There’s a great passage in the New Testament that speaks to that first statement.
Ephesians 5:15-17 “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.”
Each of us, in all probability, have very little “more time” to MAKE THE MOST OF an OPPORTUNITY. The truth is, not one of us reading this knows what tomorrow holds. That statement is not just one of those things pastors say…it’s truth. Ephesians clearly tells us what to do with time, and urges certain motives for our conduct.
There are two words in the new testament translated “time” but they mean very different things. Chronos, the more common one, simply means the succession of moments or periods. Kilos is the other, which is used here, means rather a definite portion of time to which some definite work or occurrence belongs. It is sometimes translated OPPORTUNITY or SEASON.
It is not merely time, it is THE TIME! It is not merely empty beats of a clock, but an understanding that each beat has a special significance and special mission attached to it. So what do I want to plan with each moment I’m given? I’m reminded of the old DC Talk song, Time is Ticking Away. Regardless of our social status or bank account, we all have the exact same hours in a day and days in a week – the biggest difference we can make is how we spend our hours.
So will you choose to make the most of each hour you’ve been gifted, or will you waste them away? It’s up to you to make them count – we will never get those hours back…