On the gift + weight of time
I told a few friends over the weekend - suddenly I have time.
Something that I never thought I’d have again.
We stepped away from some of our work a few weeks ago. It was a needed change and one we felt led to make.
Then without warning, my task of homeschooling was taken from me in what still feels like a God-directed, but hard way.
We have time.
I said to my husband, “It feels a bit heavy—like we’ve been given a precious gift that we must invest well.”
And then I read this today in Revelation:
“And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.”
I am reminded of the weight of time. The limited quantity of time we are given this side of eternity and its purpose - to invest.
What are we investing in?
For those who are in Christ, there is a second book that is opened simultaneously to the one mentioned above and it holds all the difference for those whose names are found within it.
Our eternal reward is no longer based on the works that are recorded for our vapor of a life, and yet, our works still hold weight.
Think with me on the story of the talents that were entrusted to the stewards:
“And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ Matthew 25:20-21
They were called to give an account for how they had invested their treasure, and we are given the same warning - that we too will be held accountable in the very same way.
So what will you and I have to show? What then will be revealed on that last day?
What earthly loves did we allow to seep in? What warm welcome to wasteful habits will we then see that we gave? What small idols will we find in the corners of our hearts?
How did we invest our time? Did we invest, or did we spend?
What do we have to show for our one small vapor of life?
We know from all of those grand old stories sitting there on our bookshelves that much can be accomplished in even the life that is cut short. We know well that a life well invested can leave an echo until the very end of time.
We have the same opportunity that our heroes had before us. We too can make the same choices.
But it will be hard. It will take thought. It will take everything.
We often are far better at filling our day than at giving it to anything of real consequence.
But the smallest act done daily can be all it takes to find a great reward at the end of the road.
There is another person in the parable shared above—one who went and buried his one small talent. No one saw it. No one gained from it. No one even knew it existed.
We too are capable of the same. In fact, it is my natural way.
I am prone to burying myself in the busyness of life - in the things that I love that have little to do with investing in an eternal kingdom.
I am prone to burying myself in the comforts, pleasures, and financial pursuits that the world would applaud me for and cheer me on towards.
But I will have little to show for it when I am called on that day to give an account.
What if, that last day was something I thought about every day?
What if I found joy in investing my one small life, not so that I can earn greater favor, but so that I could show the One who my heart loves the very most, that I was glad to spend myself for what He loves the most?
What if I did it all -
The meal-making, the diaper-changing, the dish-washing, the conversation with a friend, the serving of the least of these, the words I write down, the morning routine, the way I allow myself to be entertained, the places I travel to, the things I choose to learn, the way I engage with the world of social media, the mundane, the daily tasks, the smallest moments of life,
What if I did it all in light of that day?
What would be the return? What would be the payback? Would I find it worth the investment?
I am confident about the answer.
I know it will be yes.
