Focus: Priority of Time (Pt.1)

Text: Mt.25:10

"And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut."

The five foolish virgins went out to buy oil for their lamps, but by the time they returned, the door was already shut, and they missed the very purpose for which they had waited for all day long. A part of foolishness was doing the right thing at the wrong time. There's nothing wrong with going to buy oil, but there's everything wrong with going to buy it at the time that they did.

A person is wise or foolish by his use, misuse or abuse of time. In this world time is of essence. 

What you do or fail to do with time is of vital importance. It's a big tragedy to use up time, achieving nothing of eternal significance.

The foolish virgins failed to prioritize time. They didn't put first things first. They wasted eternity in a moment. The doors were locked against them, for coming late to the wedding. You can be a 'virgin' and still be foolish. To be righteous or spiritual requires being wise. Matthew says that "afterwards came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us" (Mt.25:11). It's part of wisdom to be watchful - intelligent and vigilant.

Paul says, "Redeeming the time, because the days are evil." He goes on to say, "Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is" (Eph.5:16,17). Paul is saying in essence, 'Redeem the time… Don't be stupid.' You can't be said to be wise if you are trivializing, misusing or wasting time.

Paul says, "Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time" (Col.4:5). Be wise and save time. In the management of time, be wise. I see time as the stuff eternity is made of. 

In other words, eternity will reveal how you used your time and what you used it for.

The psalmist prays, "So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom" (Ps.90:12). Life is made up of the times of childhood, adolescence and adulthood. We have the ages of infancy, youth, and old age. Between infancy and old age, there's energy deficiency. Energy lies within and thrives with the youth. It is a mark of wisdom to effectively use your God-given energy in the prime of your life.

Use your time of youth to prepare for your old age, and most importantly, your eternal future. Paul says, "Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life" (1Tim.6:19).

Beat time. Plan ahead. Invest into your future. Stop wasting time on frivolities or trivialities. Make time count for good in your life.

Listen to Paul, "For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand" (2Tim.4:6). Do you know why Paul was gladly ready to die? It's because of this: "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith" (2Tim.4:7). This is amazing, isn't it? He used up his time. He understood that time is sacred, and he didn't play with it. He turned moments into momentum.

You should understand that time is sacred, and it waits for no one. Also, death is certain for every man, but how prepared are you to face it? It's time for you to prioritize time. Don't let a moment pass without achieving something meaningful - something that you can be proud of in the sight of God.

by Bishop Moses E. Peter