How Do I Use What I Have?
A steward is a manager of something that belongs to someone else. God owns everything, and we are stewards of the things He has entrusted to us. This responsibility includes our time. The world often fails to recognize God and His sovereignty over all things. Everything is a gift from Him, including our days, and we should use them wisely. The world’s attitude is, “Life is short, so get everything you can while you can.” People spend their time seeking positions, power, pleasures, and possessions, but such things lose their luster. When that happens, they seek higher levels of things in a never-ending search for fulfillment. The Bible teaches that we should live for God because everything on this earth will be destroyed. “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare” (2 Peter 3:10 NIV).
You have been given life, and every second is a gift from God. What will you do with your time? Don’t sacrifice your relationship with God in an effort to accumulate temporary things. Moses wrote, “Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom” (Psalm 90:12 NLT). If we compare this fleeting world to God’s everlasting Kingdom, making wise choices with our time shouldn’t be difficult. We cannot take the things we accumulate in this world into eternity. Those things will stay behind and will belong to someone else. But when our time is focused on building God’s Kingdom, God can use our witness to bring others to Christ, and they will “be with the Lord forever” (1 Thessalonians 4:17 NIV). In his letter to the church at Ephesus, Paul wrote, “Be very careful, then how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil” (NIV). Now is the only time you have to make choices that will influence eternity. Invest your time and your focus on building God’s Kingdom.
ACT: Be intentional today to turn everything you spend time on over to God. Before working, washing dishes, gardening, watching TV or any other activity, thank God for the opportunity, and ask Him to make the most of your time. Whether it is to make your work fruitful or impactful for the Kingdom, or to allow your hobbies to refresh you, ask that He be part of it.
Being a steward means more than just managing what we have; it means being found faithful in the eyes of God, as highlighted in 1 Corinthians 4:2. From my own experience, learning to treat every minute as a sacred trust transforms how I approach daily life. When you start viewing time as God’s gift—not something to be wasted on fleeting pleasures or endless pursuits—you naturally begin to prioritize actions that align with His purpose. One practical insight I gained is the power of beginning each task with a brief moment of prayer, just as the article suggests. Whether it’s a mundane chore like washing dishes or a more significant responsibility like work or family care, dedicating those moments to God invites His influence and blessing. This practice doesn’t just increase productivity; it deepens your awareness of God’s presence throughout your day. It’s also essential to resist the world's mindset of accumulating possessions or chasing fleeting ambitions. I’ve noticed how easily the temporary can cloud eternal priorities if not guarded carefully. The scripture from 2 Peter 3:10 reminds us that all earthly things will pass away. Focusing instead on activities that build God’s Kingdom—such as sharing faith, encouraging others, or acts of service—imbues our lives with lasting meaning. Moreover, embracing the wisdom from Psalm 90:12 which urges us to recognize life’s brevity, changes how we plan and spend our time. It challenges us to say no to distractions that don’t serve our eternal purpose and yes to opportunities that foster spiritual growth and impact. In my journey, the discipline of reflecting regularly on how I use my time has been invaluable. It helps me stay aligned with God’s priorities amid daily chaos. I encourage others to take that step too—be intentional, be faithful stewards, and let your life be a testimony that honors God’s trust in you.
