3 Essential Questions for the Decade Ahead

Its not every day you get a chance to start a new decade. Three verses in Ephesians invoke three essential questions for the decade ahead.

(1) Do I waste my time?

“So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise” (Eph. 5:15, NLT).

Years ago, a wise counselor encouraged me to keep a journal of my time and record what I did every 15 minutes for a period of two weeks. I argued at first, reasoning I didn’t have the time to do that. But in the end, I found it a most helpful process. I call it doing a use-of-time-audit. Before you can make changes on how you spend your time, you’re going to need to know how you presently waste it.

In an earlier book, I had written, “Most procrastinators operate without personal accountability for their time. While they may admit to having not planned properly, they usually are unaware of how they spent their time. The word “carefully” is translated in other biblical passages “closely, exactly, accurately.” It brings to mind and analytical evaluation, one that focuses on the details, not the generalities” (Taking Back Time: biblical strategies for overcoming procrastination).

 (2) Do I spend my time wisely?

“…making the best use of the time, because the days are evil” (Eph. 5:16, ESV)

After you begin to capture your wasted time, you need to wisely reinvest it.

The Greek word (kairós) behind our English word “time” in verse 16, provokes this helpful question. One writer has said, “Kairós (time) is not merely as a succession of minutes, which is chrónos (time), but a period of opportunity (though not necessity). There is really no English equivalent to the word kairós, meaning appropriate or opportune time” (The Complete Word Study Dictionary by Spiros Zodhiates)

Windows of opportunity don’t remain open forever. In fact, they often have a very short shelf life.  Wisdom helps us determine the difference between good, better and best. We don’t simply attempt to jam more in the schedule (chrónos—time), but rather to be prepared to spend the valuable resource of time on the best opportunity (kairós—time).

(3) Do I daily do the will of God?

“Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is” (Eph. 5:17, ESV).

Often, we think of the will of God only when it comes to major decisions. Things like marriage, family, home purchases and career choices come to mind. But the word “understand” is in the present tense; meaning we should attempt to understand the will of God each day. Decisions made in the past or those looming in the future are outside of our control. But we can be more responsible with the day in which we live.

Once you’ve cleaned up your wasted time and begun to spend wisely, you should always ask, “What does God want me to do with my time today?” Four hundred years ago, Sir Francis Bacon noted, “Begin doing what you want to now. We are not living in eternity. We have only this moment, sparkling like a star in our hand—and melting like a snow-flake.”

PHIL MOSER is the author of the Biblical Strategies series and the developer of 4M Training: a 13-week small group study for men. All of his resources are found on amazon or at biblicalstrategies.com. Consider booking Phil for your next conference or retreat.