I retired a couple of years ago, after which I spent a large part of time on my computer studying the Bible in my personal devotions. (Most of my library had migrated to my computer to expedite my study time.) I also did a great deal of reflection on scripture when writing lessons that would position people to most likely hear the Holy Spirit’s whispers as they reflectively read the Bible. While on my computer, I would also take breaks and do some research on such things as how to install kitchen tile and the stock market. It became clear I was spending an inordinate time on my computer. Since I was no longer working, I needed to engage in physical tasks around the house. I then ventured into tasks I had never tried, like installing kitchen tile. Of course, doing these things minimized my Bible study time.
Over the last couple of years, I felt the subtle, yet powerful role the routines of life played in my spiritual life. Some of those cares of life would consume me to the point I felt like I was being slowly swept into a river’s mainstream. I sensed if I didn’t deliberately balance my time usage, I would veer off the path of what I valued most, that being seeking to know God more intimately.
Jesus said, Then the cares and anxieties of the world and distractions of the age, and the pleasure and delight and false glamor and deceitfulness of riches, and the craving and passionate desire for other things creep in and choke and suffocate the Word, and it becomes fruitless (Mark 4:19, AMP and Matthew 13:3-23). He is not saying we should ignore what needs to be done around us. But it does tell us how the simple, innocent looking, cares of life can disrupt one’s life to the point they neutralize inner passion, then confuse priorities.
From a bird’s-eye perspective, it was the cares of life that so preoccupied the early Hebrews it kept them from getting a grip on the power of God and left them to die in the wilderness. Satan used the cares of life to tempt Jesus in the wilderness. It was the cares of life that defeated Judas Iscariot. On the other hand, it is the cares of life that God uses to teach us, equip us, show us His love and grace. God designed for there to be a healthy tension within our lives between focusing on things above and things of this world. It is quite clear that unless we maintain time-management, our life will show very little, if any, good fruit.
Someone has said the two greatest days of your life are the day you were born and the day you find out why. God created you with a purpose in mind. God has made us what we are, and in our union with Christ Jesus he has created us for a life of good deeds, which he has already prepared for us to do (Ephesians 2:10, GNB).
By creating us in His triune likeness with having a spirit, soul, and body (Gen. 2:7), He designed us to be able to simultaneously live in two worlds as Jesus did, the physical and invisible worlds. In what way do you see the cares of life affecting your invisible spiritual journey today? Have they subtly come to dominate your focus and time? Or have you been able to set time parameters in place to make certain you can fulfill the cry of your inner spirit to know and serve God more intimately? If so, His Spirit will continually reshape you into being more and more in the image of Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 4:13) As this occurs, you will experience more and more of His joy, peace, and power.