Articles
My “Life Is Too Short” List
One of the most common themes that we find in the Bible is the brevity of human life. In spite of what we might think of it at times, or at different ages, life really is very short (Job 7:6, Psalm 39:5, Psalm 89:47, Psalm 103:15-16). We must make the most of our lives, or else they will be wasted and we will only have regrets when we stand before God on the judgment day. Recall what is written in Ecclesiastes 9:10, which says, “Whatever you hands finds to do, verily do it with all your might, for there is no activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol where you are going.” Also consider Ephesians 5:16, “Making the most of your time, because the days are evil.” A really important question to ask of yourself, therefore, is how you have spent your days. Time is not an evil thing, according to these verses, unless it is wasted. Have you been seizing the day? Or have you been hustling and bustling through life for that which profits you nothing in the eternal scheme of things?
So what if you were to make up your own “Life is too short” list? What would it look like? What would you include from your own life? Here are some ideas:
I will no longer waste time dabbling in sin (1 Peter 4:3).
I will no longer waste time worrying. I will redeem the time by giving my worries up to God (1 Peter 5:8).
I will stop being so angry over things that do not matter (Matthew 5:23-24).
I will stop wasting my time thinking that a career or money will give me lasting happiness.
I will not require perfection from others.
I will stop perpetually daydreaming about the future, or about my “lost dreams”. It is not “woulda, coulda, shoulda” but reality that I will focus on.
I will not worry about what might go wrong.
I will not live in fear of the future (Revelation 21:8).
I will spend more time nourishing the needs of my mate.
I will never assume that this person will never be interested in the gospel.
I will stop wasting my time envying others.
I will quit the pity party.
I will quit reading or listening to gossip.
I will stop telling my young children to “grow up”.
I will be more generous. Life is too short and I need to share with others as long as I have the chance.
