We live in the best of times. Conveniences of all sorts make our lives easy-maybe too easy. We have technological advances that have given us appliances that lift things, sort things, transport things, arrange things, distribute things, depict things, store things, examine things, even recommend things. We have things that can diagnose our problems, giving us a better general health. We have things that make our lives comfortable -things like air conditioning and stuff like that. We have things that are concentrated so they don't take up much space until we need them; and things that are miniaturized, like translators, so that we can take music or pictures where ever we go. Let's face it, nobody in all history has had the luxuries and conveniences we have.
As a result of these things, we have become pre-occupied with leisure. Not only do we covet what we have of leisure time, we want more and more - more freedom from time consuming responsibilities. We wanted the 40 hour week; and we got it. Now we want the 35 hour week. And for what? So that we can spend it hiking, fishing, eating, camping, playing, watching, eating, slumping, digging, sleeping, eating, sailing, driving, hitting, eating, serving, surfing, as well as about a thousand other things. And if all else fails and there's nothing much to do we can always eat.
Leisure time is great. I'm all for it. It belongs specially to us, and gives us the freedom to do things we want to do, when we want to do it, and with whom. It frees us from imposing responsibilities.
How much of your leisure time do you spend helping others? We apparently don't realize it, but humans are fitted for service and we never perform more efficiently than when we're helping others. Actually, we don't do really well with too much leisure time, because we tend to spend it on ourselves at the disposal of others. "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" will dig into your leisure time. "Go ye and do likewise," is the command that follows the story of The Good Samaritan. To fulfill that command one must sacrifice some of his time, put some of his talent and energies at someone else's disposal.
What kind of plans do you make for your leisure time? Leisure time is a commodity; it's a possession, something with worth. Accordingly, it needs to be spent wisely. Do you budget any of your off time for the good of others? Do you look for opportunities to serve? Do you make sure that some of your time away from work is used to worship God, to consider His greatness and majesty, and offer Him the thanksgiving He deserves? It takes planning to serve God; you don't serve Him by accident. Actually, leisure time is a gift from God and you are responsible for how you use it, just like talent or money, or any other gift.
What about learning with leisure time? Learning takes time. God expects us to make progress in our knowledge of His word. He said, "Study to show yourselves approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (1 Timothy 2:15). When do you plan to do that? But that's not all. How well do you know those that comprise the local congregation where you work and worship? There is considerable enjoyment to be had in getting to know your brothers and sisters in Christ. It's not only an enjoyable way to spend your leisure, it's profitable for everybody concerned.
What's wrong with being alone some? Everybody needs space now and then. One cannot be alone very long without reflecting on his life, his plans, his accomplishments, and the like. It just makes good sense to take a little time for you and God. Stop and get off for a few minutes. Take a look at yourself. That's uncomfortable at first, but you'll soon find out just who you are and what you need to be doing to become. Lots of us don't like ourselves because we've never really gotten to know ourselves. And lots of us don't ever become what we can become because we've never really sat down and examined what we have to offer. And lots of us don't get much done spiritually because we don't take time to see how we really relate to responsibility. All it takes is a little reflection. "Mediate on these things. Give thyself wholly to them, that thy profiting may appear unto all. Take heed to thyself" (1 Timothy 4:16).
Do you know what you think about heaven? Nobody is going to stumble into heaven. The way is such that "a wayfaring man, though he be learned shall not err therein" (Isaiah 35:8). Nobody is going to heaven accidentally. Do you have time to get ready? How much of your leisure time is spent in entertaining the thoughts and plans for going to heaven? One thing is certain: no matter what you do to preserve your life, you'll eventually fail. Planning for heaven is the only plan that makes any sense. And it takes time. How often do you separate yourself from the pressures of life and just think about going there, how to get there, and the like? It's sure important.
Yes, we live in the best of times. But if we're not careful we can make them the worst of times. We can spend our leisure on things not worthy of our attention, we can fail to make time for the really important matters, because we are blinded by pleasure and entertainment. And in doing so, we can lose the one thing that really matters in life - a reward in heaven. Think it over.
~In Gospel Power, Anderson, Alabama, 5/2/99.