James 4:13-17
A single week consists of 168 hours also known as 7 groups of 24 hours, or 1,440 minutes grouped 7 times, or 168 groupings of 60 minutes. Okay, you get the point. From any angle we take, our time adds up the same. No matter the demographic we were born into, street we were raised on, or title we’ve received – everyone gets the same hours. You can’t borrow from day to day, pause, fast forward or rewind.
Beep… Beeep… Beeeep – it’s your 5:30 AM alarm. Hit snooze twice. Stumble out of bed. Pull together gym clothes. Squeeze in a short but effective workout. Race home. Get ready quicker than a pit crew on race day. Rush out the door. Speed through the never-ending Starbucks line for that coveted cold brew. Stumble into the office. Pour coffee number two. Put in the sufficient amount of office hours. Stop by the bank. Pick up groceries. Dodge traffic. Meet a friend for dinner. Head home. Fall into bed. Dose off to the sitcom of the night. Wash, rinse, repeat.
The average American lives without space. The space to think, to breathe, to rest – it is nonexistent. Schedules are jam packed, rushed, filled and just plain maxed out. When rest is mentioned, we think “ain’t no body got time for that” and keep on moving.
A schedule without space presents a lifestyle of control, one that hints at even arrogance as we operate to take hold of every last minute for our own gain. If we continue down this path we are headed towards exhaustion, burn out and dissatisfaction. James confronts this pattern as he writes that we should be approaching our time by saying “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.” To operate as God intended us to we must humbly hand over our time.
Without God, our time is ephemeral. The establishment of a relationship with God and acceptance of his eternal plan for us gives time value and significance. To approach your schedule with a heart postured towards humility is to prayerfully consider what God has for you. Seek him. Draw near to him. Rest in his presence. God is the only one who can sustain us.
Humility dispels our self-sufficient bents, demolishes arrogance in achievements, and ultimately lays down our plans in exchange for that of our Creator. The hours of the day in our hands pale in comparison to hours that are guided by his hands. When we walk in humility, we will walk a path that is beyond what we could even dream.