Teach us to number our days carefully so that we may develop wisdom in our hearts. - Psalm 90:12 HCSB
An ethics professor at Princeton Seminary asked for volunteers for an extra assignment. Fifteen students showed up. He divided the group of fifteen into three groups of five each. He instructed the first group of five to proceed immediately across the campus to a certain spot; if they did not get there in fifteen minutes, their grade would be affected. A minute or two later he instructed the second group to also proceed across the campus to the same spot; but they were given forty-five minutes to get there. After they left, he instructed the last group to go across the campus to that spot too; but they were given three hours for the trip.
Now, unknown to any of these students, the teacher had arranged with three students from the Drama Department to meet them along the way, acting as people in great need: the first one they met covered his head with his hands and moaned out loud as though in great pain; the second, a little bit further along the way, was on some steps lying face down as if unconscious; the third, on the very steps of the destination, acted out an epileptic seizure. You know what the ethics professor discovered? Not one of the first group stopped, two of the second group stopped, and all five of the third group stopped.
An awareness of time should cause us to place a proper value on the use of time. We must be careful to choose what we are going to do, for time does not allow us to do everything. We should focus on the things that really matter.
One day, Jesus visited with Mary and Martha. Mary sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what He taught. Martha, however, was busy worrying over the big dinner she was preparing. When she complained to Jesus about Mary sitting around while she did all the work, the Lord replied, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has made the right choice, and it will not be taken away from her."[2]
We get so busy preparing our meals, shuttling kids to activities and school, making our living and entertaining ourselves that we forget that we were meant for so much more! God has plans for us. They are for our welfare, not for disaster, to give us a future and a hope.[3]
Jesus invites us to be His colleagues. He invites us to an impactful, meaningful life. Let’s not get so busy that we fail to see the opportunities for works of mercy around us!