Psalm 90:12 - Time a Precious Talent.
Psalm 90:12 (KJV) So teach us to number our
days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.
Psalm 90:12 (NLT) Teach us to realize the
brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.
Psalm 90:12 (NCV) Teach us how short our
lives really are so that we may be wise.
COMMENTARY PEARL
Our time belongs to God. Every moment is
His, and we are under the most solemn obligation
to improve it to His glory. Of no talent He has
given will He require a more strict account than
of our time.
The value of time is beyond computation.
Christ regarded every moment as precious, and it is
thus that we should regard it. Life is too short
to be trifled away. We have but a few days of
probation in which to prepare for eternity. We have no
time to waste, no time to devote to selfish
pleasure, no time for the indulgence of sin. It is now
that we are to form characters for the future,
immortal life. It is now that we are to prepare for
the searching judgment.
The human family have scarcely begun to
live when they begin to die. The man who
appreciates time as his working day will fit himself for
a mansion and for a life that is immortal. It
is well that he was born. We are admonished to
redeem the time. But time squandered can never be
recovered. We cannot call back even one moment. The
only way in which we can redeem our time is by
making the most of that which remains, by being
co-workers with God in His great plan of
redemption.
Every moment is freighted with eternal
consequences. We are to stand as minute men, ready for
service at a moments notice. The opportunity that
is now ours to speak to some needy soul the
word of life may never offer again. God may say
to that one, This night thy soul shall be
required of thee, and through our neglect he may
not be ready. (Luke 12:20.) In the great
judgment day, how shall we render our account to God?
FLB158
COMMENTARY
The Gift of Today
I have a smartwatch that periodically
tells me to breathe. It even reminds me when Im
working out. But I think theres actually a very
good message there.
That breath youre drawing right now is
a gift from God. There might be someone in a
hospital today struggling, hoping for his or her next
breath, so we should never take it for granted.
Every day of our lives is a gift from
God. Every single heartbeat is a blessing. So
dont take your health for granted. And dont
take your family for granted.
The Bible reminds us in Psalm 90,
Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that
we may grow in wisdom (verse 12 NLT).
When our son Christopher was killed in an
automobile accident at age 33, it was crushing. It was
devastating and life-altering. I wondered if I would
even survive it. It felt like time stood still
for all of us. I felt as though I could die,
literally.
But in my time of weakness, I called out
to the Lord, and He was there for me. He
sustained me on that day, and He sustains us all to
this day because the Bible says that Hes the
God of all comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3 NKJV).
Sometimes things happen in life that are
unfair and tragic, and we want answers. But if God
told us, we wouldnt be happy. If God said,
All right, Im tired of your asking why, so
Im going to tell you. Are you ready? Heres
why.
We wouldnt like it. It wouldnt make
sense to us this side of Heaven. So instead of
asking why, turn to the Lord and cry out to Him.
Bring your pain to God. Bring your sorrow to God.
We live on promises, not on explanations.
So we shouldnt spend too much time wondering
why. [Greg Laurie from Harvest Ministries;
https://www.harvestdaily.com]
Seize the Day... and the Moment
To illustrate the importance of numbering
our days, Dr. Leslie Weatherhead once calculated
the average length of life with the hours of one
day. He concluded that if your age is 20, the
time is 11:34 a.m. If youre 30, the time is
1:51 p.m. At age 40, the time is 4:08 p.m. By the
time you reach 50, its 6:25 p.m. If youre
60, the time is 8:42 p.m. And if youre 70,
its 11:00 p.m.
That puts it into perspective for us. In
reality, we may not have as much time as we think.
Psalm 90:12 reminds us, Teach us to realize the
brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom
(NLT). The Living Bible says it this way: Teach
us to number our days and recognize how few
they are; help us to spend them as we should.
Life is filled with opportunities. Now,
what we do with them is the big question. Do we
let them slip by, saying, Maybe next time.
There is always another day? Or, do we seize
them?
We all know to seize the day, from the
Latin term carpe diem. But do we seize the moment?
Do we seize the opportunity? We shouldnt put
it off too long, because life is marching by.
Ephesians 5:15"16 says, So be
careful how you live. Dont live like fools, but
like those who are wise. Make the most of every
opportunity in these evil days (NLT).
And Ecclesiastes 11 tells us, Plant
your seed in the morning and keep busy all
afternoon, for you dont know if profit will come
from one activity or another - or maybe both
(verse 6 NLT).
What opportunities do you need to seize
today? Take advantage of them while theyre still
available. Take advantages of the opportunities that
God puts in your life. [Greg Laurie from Harvest
Ministries; https://www.harvestdaily.com]
The Benefits of Purpose
When you are living out God's purpose for
your life, your attitude towards time will
change. You will find that you no longer waste time.
We are only given so much time on earth; the
average lifespan today is 75 years. We are all
running out of time. But if you are operating in
your purpose, you are utilizing your time rather
than just going through the motions. Your purpose
clarifies your use of time. Ephesians 5:16 says:
"[Make] the most of time, because the days are
evil." We are to redeem, or buy back, our time. We
can't reverse the clock, but we can purchase time
back. How do we do this? You can change the speed
in which you are operating; you can pick up the
pace to buy up the time you lost.
When you live out your purpose, you will
live with passion. One of the ways you can
recognize your purpose is that it will enflame you,
ignite you, and stir up your heart. God's purpose
for you isn't some dull, empty thing that makes
you dread getting up every morning. It is a fire
within the soul.
When you are living out your purpose, you
will live with direction. Paul said: "I box in
such a way, as not beating the air" (1
Corinthians 9:26). In other words, he's not punching at
nothing; his efforts are not just for show or out of
obligation. Rather, he has direction, clarity, and focus
that allow him to strike the target.
Are you ready to kick your purposeful
living into second gear to make up for lost time?
[Alternative View with Dr. Tony Evans at
https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/alternative-view-with-dr-tony-evans/]
CLOSING THOUGHT
Accomplish Your Life's Mission
"I have glorified You on earth, having
accomplished the work that You have given Me to do" Jesus
told His heavenly Father.
If you died tomorrow, could you say the
same? Could you say, "I have glorified You on
earth with the work You sent me here to do"?
You might say, "But that's Jesus
talking." Remember, Paul said the same thing as
Christ. Paul wrote that he had fought a good fight.
He kept the faith and finished his course.
Until this becomes your passion, you are wasting
your life from an eternal perspective.
As the old saying goes, "Teach me, Lord,
to number my days. Only one life will soon be
past; only what's done for Christ will last." It
is now time for you to accomplish the work that
God sent you here to do. [Alternative View with
Dr. Tony Evans at
https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/alternative-view-with-dr-tony-evans/ re Hebrews 12]
LINK FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS PASSAGE
Ephesians 5:15 (NKJV) See then that you walk
circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, PENDING.
YOUR COMMENTS
If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in
hearing from you. Thanks in advance and let's keep
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred
Gibbs
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
Most Important Decision in Life:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0
A Man without Equal by Bill Bright:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo
Seeking God Made Real:
http://vimeo.com/31489782
Prayer Made Real:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE
Importance of Choice:
http://creationhealth.com/CREATION-Health/Choice [click on video]
Medical Seminar on Healthful Living by David
DeRose, MD, MPH:
https://www.smartlifestyletv.com/lifestart
LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES
Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies:
http://www.liftingupjesus.net/
Amazing Facts Bible Studies:
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx
Hope Awakens Bible Study Guides:
https://www.hopeawakens.study/lesson-header;id=2
Glow Tract Video Bible Studies:
http://www.bibleresearch.info/
LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS
Revelation Now by Pastor Doug Batchelor:
https://www.revelationnow.com/
Unlocking Bible Prophecies by Cami Oetman of
Adventist World Radio:
https://bible.awr.org/en/the-signs/
Hope Awakens by John Bradshaw of IIW:
https://itiswritten.tv/programs/hope-awakens
Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657
