A self-proclaimed slave of Christ said this in the scriptures:
Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. - Ephesians 5:15-16
The days are evil?
Whatchutalkinbout’ Willis?
Random person: “Oh hey Ryan, how have you been these days?”
Me responding biblically: “The days are evil my friend, and I hath been residing in them.”
I find it interesting that Paul, who has been divinely inspired to write these words, would say that “the days are evil”. After all, it doesn’t really make a lot of sense to say that the days themselves are evil. Sure, the things we fill our days up with could be evil. But the days themselves? It’s almost like saying the sky is evil…or breathing is evil…or little baby kangaroos are evil. It just doesn’t make sense.
But sometimes God doesn’t make sense at all does He?
Most times, little old me forgets that God lives outside of time. I forget that our entire existence as the human race isn’t even a single tick on the clock that He’s created. THE TIME is fixed. THE TIME is a measured, allocated season. THE TIME is my life. We can’t know how long it is exactly, but most lifetimes are pretty similar…somewhere around 50-100 years.
Time is evil because we don’t have much of it.
And so it’s got me thinking about the way I spend MY TIME. We do spend it don’t we? It’s currency.
Someone once said, “No one who can rise before dawn 365 days a year fails to make his family rich.” This rich man has spent his time cultivating that wealth. He may have money for his family, but I bet he worked himself out of a deep and meaningful relationship with them as well.
The days are evil. We’ve only got a short time to fill them up with things that are wise and worthwhile.
I’d like to invite you to leave a comment on this post. All you have to do is copy the sentence below and fill in the blanks with whatever it is you want. Feel free to do this a few times if you need to.
I’d like to spend less time __________ so that I can spend more time __________.
May your evil days be filled with glorious things,
Ryan
79 Comments
I’ll go first.
I’d like to spend less time worrying about what other people are doing so that I can spend more time thriving in my own life.
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I’d like to spend less time worrying, so that I can spend more time enjoying the moment.
But I am a Mom, and the only one in our family working right now in our bad economy, so that is tough to do.
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I’d like to spend less time on social networking sites so that I can spend more time with Jesus.
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I’d like to spend less time reading about what I love to do so that I can spend more time doing it.
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I’d like to spend less time commuting and watching t.v. so I can spend more time cultivating my talents and spending time with family and friends.
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I’d like to spend less time selfishly, so that I can spend more time giving.
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I’d like to spend less time _working_ so that I can spend more time _with my family_.
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I’d like to spend less time existing so that I can spend more time LIVING!
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I’d like to spend less time living in the future so that I could be more present in today.
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I’d like to spend less time stuck at work so that I can spend more time working on my lifelist.
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I’d like to spend less time focusing on me and more time helping others.
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I’m going to repeat what someone said earlier. I like this:
I want to spend less time existing so that I can spend more time living. So true!
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I’m modifying your ‘assignment’ just a bit - hope you don’t mind.
I wish I had spent less time fussing/nagging so that I could have spent more time enjoying my husband’s company.
FYI - my husband recently died at the young age of 36. I miss the conversations we used to have, even the silly, meaningless ones about nothing.
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I’d like to spend less time worrying so I can spend more time enjoying minutes with loved ones.
Shoot, I have another… actually, I’ll just second Ryan’s first one. Heck, along with that, #9 and #11 too!
Thanks for making us think and reflect today!
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I’d like to spend less time being codependent on my daughter (bipolar alcoholic/heroin addict) and more time persuing my own physical and spiritual health and hobbies/interests.
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I’d like to spend less time stressing so I can spend more time ENJOYING!!
Thanks for this post Ryan.
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I would like to spend less time at work so that I can spend more time doing something meaningful.
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I’d like to spend less time planning so that I can spend more time doing.
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I’d like to spend less time yelling at my kids so that I can spend more time loving on them.
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I’d like to spend less time avoiding work so that I can spend more time feeling productive.
I’d like to spend less time drinking/smoking so that I can spend more time exercising.
I’d like to spend less time worrying about being loved so that I can spend more time loving others more freely.
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I’d like to spend less time being drawn into drama and more time being in the presence of God.
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I’d like to spend less time watching t.v. at night so that I can spend more time being in relationship with my husband.
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I’d like to spend less time interacting virtually so that I can spend more time interacting in person. With coffee. And possibly brownies.
I’d like to spend less time worrying about money so that I can spend more time loving on my daughter. And husband. And see above.
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I’d like to spend less time daydreaming so that I can spend more time studying
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I’d like to spend less time worrying and thinking about where I’m going in life so that can spend more time living in the moment, enjoying all the little moments and enjoying everything my life encounters.
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I’d also like to add…
I’d like to spend less time thinking about doing the things I want to do so that I can spend more time doing the things I want to do.
I’m too much of a thinker…what can I say.
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I’d like to spend less time living in fear so that I can spend more time living.
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I’d like to spend less time complaining so that I can spend more time listening.
I’d like to spend less time on the computer so that I can spend more time with God.
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I’d like to spend less time doing thing I HAVE to do, and more time doing things I WANT to do.
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i’d like to spend less time in a dark funk and more time having a bright, healthy outlook
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Oh dear…I immediately thought of a few…but I’ll share two (one more serious and one more funny).
I’d like to spend less time working so that I can spend more time in ministry.
I’d like to spend less time single so that I can spend more time married.
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I’d like to spend less time keeping up with friends on facebook so that I can spend more time playing with and nurturing my 3 little ones.
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I’d like to spend less time whining and being selfish so that I can spend more time enjoying God’s blessings.
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I’d like to spend less time planning my life so I can spend more time living it.
and, if I’m really honest…
I’d like to spend less time worrying about how others might see me and spend more time being myself.
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I’d like to spend less time thinking and more time living.
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I’d also like to spend less time trying to be wise and more time being foolish.
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I’d like to spend less time on the Internet so that I can spend more time in God’s word.
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I’d like to spend less time in worry, fear and what if? so that I can spend more time doing the fierce living that I know I am meant to be doing!
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I’d like to spend less time working so that I can spend more time using my horse to put smiles on kids faces.
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I’d like to spend less time getting sucked into people’s blogs so that I can spend more time in God’s Word.
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I’d like to spend less time pretending so that I can spend more time being me.
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I’d like to spend less time dreaming about what I want and more time doing what needs to be done to get what I want.
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I’d like to spend less time being angry, sad, frustrated, disapointed, disillusioned, discontent and fearful so I can spend more time glorifying and enjoying God.
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I’d like to spend less time being on the internet so that I can spend more time reading my bible! Matter of fact, I think I’ll do it now!
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I’d like to spend less time being angry with myself so that I can spend more time raising my wonderful children.
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I’d like to spend less time Yelling so that I can spend more time listening.
Thanks for the great post!!
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I’d like to spend less time being distracted and more time playing with my girls.
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I’d like to spend less time worrying about why I can’t or shouldn’t and more time living out my dreams.
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I’d like to spend less time feeling lonely so I can spend more time feeling anything else. Or maybe this is really it ~ I want to spend less time wondering how hard I’m supposed to fight for this life in a gorgeous but emotionally unavailable location so I can spend more time with family in the middle of nowhere where nothing else matters.
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I should spend less time focusing on what I don’t have (but would like), and by default would spend more time making the most of ALL that I have been given.
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I’d like to spend less time STEWING OVER THINGS THAT DON”T MATTER so that I can spend more time LOVING THE PEOPLE THAT DO MATTER.
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I’d like to spend less time working and more time with my family.
My current commute to work is about 1.5-2 hrs each way. I’m gone from my house from 6:45am to about 7-7:30pm. Dinner isn’t until 8:30 most nights. If i could find a job closer to home, working the 9-5, it’d be nice. Thankful to have a job though.
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I’d like to spend less time procrastinating so that I can spend more time getting things done.
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Wow I read all of these and here we go,
dito #2,3,8,11,21,22,46,50 and I’m sure many more as well but these stuck out.
So now I’m going to shut this thing off and go walk my dog:)
Thank you all!
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I’d like to spend less time WORRYING so I can spend more time LAUGHING.
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#20 was spot on, but I will add….
I’d like to spend less time thinking so that I can spend more time doing.
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I’d like to spend less time on the internet so that I can spend more time praising God.
thats the God Bible Christian answer.
I’d like to spend less time being selfish (that is most of my sin) so that I can spend more time giving myself away.
Thats the what I really think answer.
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I’d like to spend less time worrying so that I can spend more time being grateful.
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I’d like to spend less time grading papers, so I can have more time to travel.
I’d like to spend less time worrying about money, so I can spend more time being grateful for the little that I do have.
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I’d like to spend less time spending money so that I can spend more time giving it away.
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I would like to spend less time talking and more time listening.
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I would like to spend less time wanting and more time giving.
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I’d like to spend less time worrying about my children and more time enjoying them.
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I’d like to spend less time trying to get ahead and more time being satisfied with where I’m at.
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I’d like to spend less time bickering over silly things at church so that I can spend more time being the youth pastor.
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I’d like to spend less time reading blogs so that I can spend more time leaving a memory legacy for my children.
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I’d like to spend less time on the computer, so I can spend more time…doing everything else.
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I’d like to spend less time criticizing so that I can spend more time loving.
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I’d like to spend less time thinking about myself and more time thinking about those around me.
I’d like to spend less time catching up and more time relaxing and enjoying the kids.
I’d like to spend less time looking for the “post comment” button and…
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I’d like to spend less time worrying and more time basking in God’s grace.
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running the stupid rat race; fighting for the defenseless.
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I’d like to spend less time living in the moment, and more time living my life with eternity in mind.
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I’d like to spend less time working so that I can spend more time with my son.
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I’d like to spend less time coping with stress so that I can spend more time dealing with the stressful circumstances.
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I’d like to spend less time worrying about my kids and their relationship with God and more time praying for them.
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I’d like to spend less time on the computer (work or otherwise) so that I can spend more time with my family and remembering.
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I’d like to spend less time __working________ so that I can spend more time __with my kids and grandkids________.
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I’d like to spend less time doing so that I can spend more time being.
I’d like to spend less time working so that I can spend more time parenting.
I’d like to spend less time away so that I can spend more time at home.
I’d like to spend less time complaining at my husband so that I can spend more time honoring him.
I’d like to spend less time “controlling” so that I can spend more time in worship.
I’d like to spend less time stressing so that I can spend more time praying.
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I’d like to spend less time planning my wedding so I can spend more time with my future husband.
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