Bank of Time

by Dr. Paul Chappell


“Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.”

Ephesians 5:14–17


Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for it is the stuff life is made of.—Benjamin Franklin

What would you do if you had a bank that credited your account each morning with $86,000? It carried over no balance from day to day, allowed you to keep no cash in your account, and every evening cancelled whatever part of the amount you failed to use during the day, what would you do? Withdraw every cent every day, of course, and use it to your advantage!

You have such a bank, and its name is time. Every morning it credits you with 86,400 seconds. Every night it roles off as lost if you failed to invest into a good purpose. It carries over no balances, it allows no overdrafts. Each day it opens a new account with you. If you fail to use the day's deposits, the loss is yours. There is no going back. There is no drawing against tomorrow.

Even better than having riches is having time. But just like money, you can invest your time in whatever you want. Some people choose to invest it in themselves by living in luxury, comfort, and wealth. Others choose to invest it in a company by working overtime, taking work home, and constantly working. And some people choose to invest in others by taking time to help a hurting friend, talking with someone in need, and loving those around them.

How would Christ invest His time were He here? The answer can be found by examining His earthly ministry. While the Pharisees invested in religious teaching, Christ taught of His Father. While the tax collectors invested in their own wealth, Christ invested in heavenly wealth. While the Romans invested in conquering lands, Christ conquered sin and death.

The Lord spent His time investing in others and in the work of God. How will you spend your time this new year? Will you be like the Pharisees, tax collectors, or Romans? Or will you, like Jesus, invest in God’s kingdom and in the lives of others?

Determine today to think of others before yourself. Take time to help someone. Spend a few more minutes of your day showing someone else how they can know Christ. The best returns you get this year won’t be from your investment in a bank, but from your investment in the lives of others.


To learn more about Pastor Chappell's books, Sunday school curriculum, and spiritual leadership resources, please visit strivingtogether.com.