Christians follow Jesus Christ as their example by all humanly possible means. Jesus Christ and God are one, and therefore God is also an example to Christians. In the scriptures, we learn that God makes everything in its right time. This is according to the first part of Ecclesiastes 3:11 where the Bible says, “Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. …” (NLT).
In this post we shall remind ourselves of the call to liken ourselves to Christ with respect to time keeping. Often times we take time for granted such that when we are called to account for our malpractice, we opt to apologize for being late, where possible we give prior notice on delays, give excuses and sometimes do nothing about it but hope that everyone concerned will understand. It is true that missing the right time due to unforeseen circumstances is unavoidable, yet we are called to do everything within our possible means to keep time.
Before I unveil and expound on the theme verse, I wish to conscientize you on some general thoughts on time and then discuss four biblical examples on time keeping.
General thoughts on time
Lost time is never regained. Even though our focus is on keeping time and not on wasted time but I do find Benjamin Franklin’s warning relevant when he says that time is a scarce resource, and if it’s wasted, it cannot be recovered later.
It is also important to note that time comes with opportunities. To demonstrate this point, think about the following instances and imagine the lost opportunities that would befall culprits who miss specific time.
- A job interview
- Job tender submission
- A flight
- A doctor’s appointment
From the given examples, it can be noted that not only does failing to keep time affect the victim but is also inconveniences other people. In the same way, time to knock-off or finish what you are doing on agreed or given time count as much.
Biblical examples on the importance of keeping time
Allow me to take just four examples from the Bible that were time sensitive to all the affected individuals.
- Jonathan and David (1 Samuel 20)
Jonathan, the son of Saul, was a good friend to David yet Saul wanted to kill David. Jonathan and David made a plan to get the truth within three days. At the agreed time, Jonathan had to be at the appointed place and time to send the message. Similarly, David had to be there to receive it.
David was saved by his diligence in observing and keeping to the agreed time for a specific activity. If David was not hiding at the right place at the right time, he wouldn’t have seen or heard the sigh that they had agreed on with Jonathan. Missing the agreed time would have disrupted the whole plan and perhaps led to the capture and assassination of David by Saul. Sadly, Saul wouldn’t have to be blamed for it.
- The death of Egypt’s first born sons (Exodus 12)
The story of the Passover meant that a first born child or animal that missed getting in to the safe place before the angel of death came would die. In Exodus 12:12-13 the Bible says, ‘On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn of both people and animals, and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the Lord. 13 The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt’.
The information was specific and non-negotiable.
- Jesus commands His disciples to stay in Jerusalem (Acts 1 and 2)
According to Acts 1 and 2, while Jesus’ disciples were in the Mount of Olives with Him, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem until they receive the gift that God would give them. The distance between the two locations was a Sabbath day’s journey. This according to the Oxford Reference is 1.2 km, which is about 2,000 cubits that Jews were permitted to walk on a Sabbath day.
It can be noted that this appointment was open ended yet time was an important factor. The temptation to leave Jerusalem for a moment or start elsewhere before going there could have made a disobedient disciple miss out on the promised gift.
- Joseph is given time to flee to Egypt (Matthew 2)
Reading in the Gospel of Matthew 2:13, the Bible says ‘After the wise men were gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. ‘Get up! Flee to Egypt with the child and his mother,’ the angel said. ‘Stay there until I tell you to return, because Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.’
Time was of essence for Joseph not to mess up the plan of God about Jesus. No one knows what God could have done if Joseph chose to be disobedient and stayed until the next morning.
There are a lot more examples that can be used to show that Jesus Christ and God did things in time. From creation to the unknown future, God has, and will continue to do things at the right time.
Theme verve
Our theme verse is taken from Ecclesiastes 3:1. “There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven”. Time keeping must be taken serious because everything must be done at its right time.
Exhortation
There is coming judgment awaiting everyone, and time keeping will be a factor. There are times when we are to attend devotions, services, conferences, prayer sessions, evangelism campaigns, etc. it is important that we keep time. It is not permissible for Christians to be deliberate on missing set times, that is, late coming and exceeding allocated time.
Christians should also be mindful that the devil can be instrumental in making Christians fail on time keeping, knowing very well that such behaviour offends God. Therefore, praying for God’s help to keep time is important.
This is not a message of condemnation but a call to brethren to keep time. Christians are to be like Christ and God, doing things on time.
Conclusion
The Bible is clear in the book of Ecclesiastes 7:8 that the end is more important than whatever happened in the past. The important cover up on time miss-management is communicating your challenges or negotiating for revised time allocation with all concerned parties.
Changing your behaviour and doing right is well acceptable to God. For most people, adjusting to right behavior is a process yet instant change is also a possibility. I encourage Christians to take time keeping serious and be like the God whom we serve.
Be blessed.
Revised: 24/10/24
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