For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away. -James 4:14

I was having dinner with a successful business man a few days ago. It was great! I asked him a lot of questions about finance and investing, he gave me a lot of great insight, but one thing he said really made me think.

He said, “You know what’s your most important investment?” “What?” I responded. “Your time. You get 2,080 work hours a week (if you work 8 hours a day/5 days a week/52 weeks a year) to invest. How you invest that time determines everything.”

He said the best question I can continue to ask myself is, “Am I getting the most value I can out of the 2,080 hours I have this year?” That question will determine my success, the amount of money I earn, and how far I go in life.

As a result that conversation, I am going to laminate a card and carry it around in my pocket that says, “What am I doing with my 2,080 hours?” I want to maximize my time, potential, earnings, and my life. The only way to do that is to use the time we’ve been given with wisdom. More specifically the wisdom of God.

I’m going to be seeking God’s wisdom on the best use of my time. I suggest you do the same! He knows what the best use of our time will be!

What are you going to do with your 2,080 hours?

“Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” -Acts 3:6

This Christmas as I handed out Christmas cards, I’d often say, “Silver and gold, I have none, but what I do have is a Christmas card!” At this point in my life, I don’t have all the money I’d like to just go out and bless everyone that has been a blessing to me.

At first I felt guilty and then I got down on myself. Then I thought…I don’t need to be able to give a gift or a gift card to bless someone, I’ll just give what I do have to give: Encouragement, time, my service, a meaningful card, etc.

You might not be able to buy everyone you know gifts this Christmas, but you do have something that you can give. The question you should ask yourself is:

What can I offer people that would be better than just getting them a gift?

Maybe you could:

• Take someone out to coffee and encourage them
• Write letters to the people that have impacted you the most
• Volunteer to help them with a project they need to get done at home
• Offer your expertise to someone who could use it
  
• Call someone and let them know they’ve made a difference in your life
• Send out text messages thanking people for the impact they’ve had
• Introduce people to people that can help them!
  
• Give someone an opportunity they don’t deserve!
• Give up your morning, afternoon, or evening just to spend time with someone.
  

Don’t think that the only way to bless someone this Christmas is through money and gifts. You have more to offer than you realize.

What do you have to give this Christmas?

⁴¹“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, ⁴²but only one thing is needed.^[f] Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Luke 10:41,42

Focusing on What’s Important

Throughout the Bible we find plenty of scripture telling us what we need to focus on. It’s very clear that if we focus on the right things we’ll have everything we need (Matthew 6:33), we’ll bear fruit John 15:7, we’ll have success (Joshua 1:8), and God will redeem our time (Eph. 5:15-17), I could go on and on. So how do we figure out what to focus on? It’s simple:

The Answer to 1,001 Questions - Keith Moore always says that the answer to 1,001 questions is simply: “Be Led”. We need to be led by God in everything we do. The truth is that if we’re being led by anything or anyone other than God – we’ll be wasting time.

Realize Everything You Do, Everywhere You Go, Everything You Say can Be on Purpose: I Cor. 9:26 says, “I run every step with purpose”. God wants to direct your steps in every area of your life. Make sure you spend time each day asking Him to show you what He wants to you to do that day.

If You Don’t Choose How You’ll Spend Your Time Others Will: Carl Sandburg said it best, “Time is the coin of your life.  It is the only coin you have, and only you can determine how it will be spent.  Be careful lest you let other people spend it for you.”

If We Focus on The Kingdom, We’ll Have all the Time we Need: Matthew 6:33 says, “Seek ye FIRST the Kingdom of God . . . and ALL these things will be added to you.” ONCE OUR TIME BECOMES IMPORTANT TO HIM, HE’LL FREE UP OUR TIME TO DO MORE IMPORTANT THINGS FOR THE KINGDOM as well as things we enjoy.

The Only Way to be Successful in All You Do - Joshua 1:8 says that we need to meditate on the Word of God day and night and ONLY THEN will we be successful in all we do. Notice it didn’t say meditating on all of the subjects of the world, peoples blog posts, peoples books, etc., but on the Word of God!

The bottom line is that if your focus all of your energy (all your heart, soul, and mind) on God then you’ll always be focusing on what’s important, you’ll accomplish more than you could imagine, you’ll be doing what God called you to do, you’ll always be at the right place at the right time, you’ll avoid a ton of trouble and pain in your life, and I can guarantee you that you’ll be changing other peoples lives.

Are you focusing on the right things?