January 13, 2012

In this current age of technology we have access to more knowledge than ever before.  We also have many ways to make our jobs easier and more efficient.  But as we would all admit, with the increase in technology which was designed to make our jobs easier, we find ourselves having much more work to do.

 

Maybe it is because we can handle more work with the aid of technology that we are now doing the work of 3 or 4 people.  That alone can send a person into a frenzy.

 

If you have school age children that is a whole other level of stuff that you have to do.  Aside from cooking for them and cleaning up after then, you have homework and school projects.  And most parents have their children in a variety of extra curricular activities such as sports, music lessons and a host of other things.  Those activities are fine, but someone has to chauffeur them around.

 

Then there is house maintenance, personal bill paying and bookkeeping, shopping, cleaning, and more things that I can think of to list.  Just how do we wedge a moment into our days for anything?

 

So on Monday when I spoke of kindness to others I knew that was challenging.  It is difficult to feel kind towards anyone when we are stretched in our own lives beyond anything we can control.  Fatigue is a difficult thing to overcome and most days we carry it around like a load of rocks on our back.

 

Then on Wednesday when I asked you to go beyond just kindness to stop and take notice of others and attempt to sense from the Holy Spirit what special kindness could you contribute to each person which was unique to them, that was almost more than a person can do in light of all the other things they have to do each day.

 

Your time is valuable.  There is no doubt about that.  We each only have 24 hours in a day and we all have a ton of responsibilities to complete in that time.  So when you take an extra minute to stop for someone else’s benefit you are giving away something very valuable to them.

 

On Wednesday the word was ‘make the most’.  Multiple words in the English but only one word in the Greek. 

 

… buy out, buy away from, ransom; mid: I purchase out, buy, redeem, choose…

 

What really caught my attention about this definition was the word ‘buy’.  In verse 5 of Colossians 4 below we see the Word telling us to ‘make the most of our opportunities’.

 

Colossians 4:5-6

5) Be wise in the way you act toward those who are outside [the Christian faith]. Make the most of your opportunities. 6) Everything you say should be kind and well thought out so that you know how to answer everyone.

 

The word buy lends a sense of worth to redeeming that opportunity.  So when you stop to make the most of an opportunity with another person it will cost you something.  You will have to buy that opportunity – with your time.

 

We hoard our time because it is so infrequent that we get a moment to ourselves.  Everyone wants our time and we have so little for ourselves.  So we rush, rush, rush through the day to get done for others what we can, as fast as we can, in hopes that we will have just a moment left over at the end of the day for ourselves.

 

So when we are out at the grocery store, or some other place in public, we are hurrying to get yet one more task done.  And that is why we rarely take notice of the subtle needs of those around us.

 

So let me challenge you to try something different.  Slow down.  Yes I know that may cost you precious moments of your time.  But humor me here and try this.  Slow down and attempt to take notice of those around you.  Sense from the Holy Spirit if there is an extra special kind word you could say to that person.  Or just offer kindness and a smile that you normally would not take time for.

 

Now this may cost you, but I guarantee you that with this practice you will begin to see less stress in your life and the moments that you spend will reap a harvest of joy in your life.  When we invest, in this way, in those around us on a daily basis we reap a harvest that is supernatural. 

 

Sowing into others lives in this seemingly minute way reaps a harvest larger than that extra moment of time you might have saved up for yourself.  It will have a far greater effect on your well being and emotional health in the long run.

 

Yes that extra step of kindness will cost you.  What is your time worth and what will the return on your investment be?  Give it a try and I promise you will be amazed to find joy unspeakable.

 

No matter what your beliefs are, I want to thank you for visiting my Christian blog!