Devotional Thursday – Your Spending Habits

What is the most important thing you spend on someone?  If you answered “money,” keep reading.

The answer is time.  Most people do not understand the value of time.  Once you spend time, you can never get it back.  Think about that.  You can spend money, but you can earn more.  Time is a gift from God.  You cannot earn it.  Once you spend it, it is gone forever.

Think of the people in your life.  Start with those who are closest to you, such as your spouse, your children, other family members or friends.  Would they prefer receiving a tangible gift from you or would they rather receive your time – your time spent focusing on them, not things?

Looking at this conversely, what happens to our relationships when we do not spend our time with those who are most important to us?  Think divorce, kids who behave badly, relationships that lose their closeness, friendships that end.

God made each of us to crave relationships with others, but a person cannot have a true relationship with someone unless they spend time with that person.  I’m not talking about sitting in the same room with another person while you watch TV.  No, that’s a relationship you are having with the TV.  Turn off the TV and talk with the people who are in that room with you!

Take an honest look at the people in your life.  Are you content with your relationship with them?  Are you spending your time with them, focusing on them, treating them the way you want to be treated?

What about your relationship with your Maker?  God made you because He wants you to have a daily, intimate relationship with Him.  Not once in awhile when you’ve got trouble.  Daily.  Throughout the day.

If you spend time every single day with God and those who are important to you, you will see distance replaced with a loving closeness.

The time you are given today will be permanently gone tomorrow.  How are you spending it?

“Your heart will be where your treasure is.”  Matthew 6:21.  (God’s Word Translation 1995).

TO GOD BE THE GLORY

Cynthia Howerter © 2012