Numbering our Days

The Bible warns that life is short and can “fly away.” It’s “a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes” (James 4:14 NIV).

Some use life’s brevity as an excuse to indulge in short-term pleasures. But the Bible challenges us to “number our days.” The Hebrew word suggests the process of counting.

We may be inclined to live for today and escape into pleasures of the moment. But the Bible encourages us to remember life’s brevity. Think carefully about your life and what you do. Realize that each day is special with unique opportunities. God holds us accountable for how we spend our time every day.

As we look back on our lives, we should hope to present to God “a heart of wisdom.” This means that we have made wise choices. We have sought to be faithful servants. We have committed our ways to Him and sought His guidance and direction.

We also are to seek His perspective. How easily we can be so focused on ourselves, our desires, and our plans and forget how fragile we are. We forget, in reality, how little we control. We don’t really “know what will happen tomorrow” (James 4:13-15).

Today, remember that your days are fleeing quickly. Take the initiative. Order your days. Ask God to help you make the most use of your time. Seek to make every moment count for Christ. Don’t leave anything undone.