As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. ~Proverbs 27:17 (NIV)
“Time flies” is an understatement. It seems the older we get the faster the hand on the clock spins. In realizing this truth, it’s important we learn to make the most of our time. Have you ever noticed that when referring to time people often use the words “spend” or “invest” or even “waste”. That is because time is a valuable resource, even more valuable than any other resource we have. Although we were born into eternity, our time here on earth is to be used wisely, just like any other resource God gives to us. We are to be good stewards of our time, just like we are to be good stewards of money. How we spend our time is actually a very big example to those around us. We are told in 2 Corinthians 5:8 “so we make it our goal to please Him…” (NIV) Is your goal for the day to please the Lord? If so, others will be aware of it. If not, well, that will be obvious as well. Christ’s love toward us should compel us to love others. When we have a true understanding of what being forgiven, redeemed, and restored actually means we will be jumping up and down to persuade others to get in on that life that Jesus bought for them. We are referred to in the bible as Christ’s ambassadors. God is making His appeal to everyone we meet through us! This life is fleeting but our hope doesn’t rest in this life, it rests in the fact that we have been made a new creation in Christ and who we were before we knew the Lord and what we did before we were born again has all passed away. We are free to live out the awesome life and destiny God planned for us, and God will use that kind of life to draw others to Jesus!
The bible teaches iron sharpens iron. People need each other. We need encouragement and help and guidance regularly. It’s one of the ways we allow the Lord to fulfill His purposes for our lives and in the lives of others. God wants us to take the time to lift each other up and He wants to use others to prop us up during our difficult days. What’s your availability for God’s purposes today? Are you able to give someone a helping hand or a shoulder to lean on? Paul writing to the believers in Romans 1:11-12 says, “For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.” (ESV) When believers get together it can’t help but strengthen them. Does your time with others strengthen you? Does it strengthen them and build them up in the Lord? If not, you are not living on purpose! You might just be “passing time”. We need to remember what we do for Christ is eternal. Being busy is a reasonable excuse but the truth is that we are all busy. If we don’t make time for each other, we lose valuable opportunities to be strengthened and refreshed. When you are spending time with others, ask yourself this question: "Are they going to walk away from this time together feeling refreshed or burdened?" Words can be powerful tools to lift people up or powerful weapons to tear people down. You know what you have been called to do! Make a decision today to set aside some time for “mutual encouragement”. If you have to pencil it into your schedule then do it, but make sure it happens. That’s how we freshen each other up!
But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” ~Hebrews 3:13a (NIV)
Who have you propped up and how? Who has propped you up and how?
Write an answer
Write an answer
Comments