The Most Precious Commodity
May 16, 2019
There’s a park bench on my regular running route with an index card sized gold plaque in memory of Christian James Zimmer, who died in 2016 at only 23 years old. Next to the plaque is a small plastic vial that holds a flower. I run that route at least three times a week. Every week for as long as I can remember, there has been a fresh red rose with baby’s breath in that mini-vase. I’ve never seen the person replace the dying rose with a new one, but it’s obviously done by someone who loved Christian James Zimmer very deeply, and misses him more than seems bearable. I imagine a grieving mother or father, faithfully visiting that park bench every week, shedding many tears for their son who left this earth way too young. When we lose a loved one, we want so much to honor them and to do whatever we can do to keep their memory alive. We don’t know what else to do when we are grief-stricken, so we tend to our loved one’s grave stone, or we place flowers in vases on a park bench. I think it makes us feel like we have some measure of control over a situation that we actually have no control over whatsoever. I’m not demeaning this at all. I would probably do the same if I were in Mr. or Mrs. Zimmer’s place.
Death is the great equalizer. It does not discriminate. Young or old, rich or poor, male or female, it simply doesn’t matter. Unless Jesus returns, every one of us will experience it. It’s just a question of when. Some of us live 90 or more years. Some of us don’t even live a year. Our days are in God’s hands. The value of a life is not measured in the quantity of years, but in the quality of years. What we do with our time is of great importance to God. Our days are a gift from Him. So what do we do with our time?
1. We thank God for it. One of the most well-known verses in the psalms is 118:24: “This is the day that the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it.” There are so many people who we meet who seem to be genuinely unhappy. We may even be among them. Often times there is reason for sadness or stress. Even in those times, we should always be able to find a reason to be thankful. Every time you ask someone how they are doing and they say, “OK, better than the alternative,” that’s a statement about the value of life. (I’m not sure I agree with that statement. I think the alternative is better. But that’s a topic for another day!)
2. We do good with it. Ephesians 2:10: “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” God has already predetermined the work that He has for us to do. Let’s not be cavalier about doing it. We all need to rest. But there’s a difference between rest and sloth. God created the Sabbath for rest. But God cautions against laziness. Proverbs 6:10: “‘A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest’—11 Your poverty will come in like a vagabond, and your need like an armed man.” God plans for us to use our time to provide for ourselves and our families. But He also wants us to do good to others. Galatians 6:10: “So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.”
3. Trust God with it. Psalm 31:14-15: “But I trust in you, LORD; I say, ‘You are my God.’ My times are in your hands.” Most of us spend a lot of time worrying about our health. I do it too. That’s why I’m out running in the first place! But our times are in God’s hands. We will live as long as He wants us too and until we have accomplished what He has for us to do. Then He will bring us home.
I spent the first 35 years or so of my life as an unbeliever. I spent some of that time productively. I got an education, got married, had two kids, and bought a house. But around those major events, I wasted so much time that it literally sickens me to think about it. There is no more precious commodity than time. It can only be spent once. I’ll never get that wasted time back. I think about Christian James Zimmer who only lived 23 years. I don’t know what he did with his time. I don’t know if he is in heaven, but I’m sure that whoever is putting flowers in that vase would give all they have for one more day. Spend each day productively. Don’t take time for granted. You don’t know how much you have. Give each day back to God as an offering to Him. There’s no more rewarding feeling than knowing you have been productive for God’s purposes and for His glory. A life well lived is a life lived for God.
