The Best use of Time

Colossians 4:5

“Conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, make the best use of the time.”

In one verse we have three main points; wise conduct, outsiders, and time.  It reminds me of the many times mother would give me instructions as a child before I went to town by myself.  It went something like this; “Bobby, make sure you are on your best behavior, you only have a quarter plus your bus fare, so spend it wisely, and be polite, but do not talk with strangers, and whatever you do watch the time, so that you do not miss the 5:30 bus.”  We had that conversation many times.

In the Scripture above who is being referred to as outsiders?  An outsider is any person who was not a follower of Christ.  And what are we being admonished to do, “conduct ourselves in a wise way, is that a practice of the church in 2010?  We are given clear instruction in Scripture on applying this standard of living, one such passage is 1 Peter 3:8-9, “Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.  Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.”  Peter had no misgivings on the statement above he knew that in his own life it required setting his mind on his conduct to outsiders.

I bet you are in agreement with the apostles on being wise in your conduct toward outsiders, but we seem not to set our minds on doing this before we begin our day, and the next thing that happens is we are repaying evil with evil or insult with insult.  What if we chose to bless them, agreeing with God about our calling.  And then the question about the best use of time must be addressed; but how can we best use the time God has given us?

God has not called us to be a doormat for the world, but a light that is used to expose the darkness.  But we should never forget that once we also walked in darkness.  Ephesians chapter five gives clear instruction on how to walk in this world and the use of our time.  Each of us would be wise to read chapter five often and take to heart verses 15-17, “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.  Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”  How I need to set my mind on Colossians 4:5, “Conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, make the best use of the time.”  For that is what the church has been called to do.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice