Don't Waste It

                                                            Don’t Waste It

            Apathy.  It’s a word that grates on every emotion I have, and I’m sure God dislikes it even more than I do.  It’s a disease becoming prevalent among college students, high school students, and young adults everywhere.  It can ruin your life.

            Ephesians 5:15-16 warns against wasting the precious time God has given us on this earth.  Because of the blessed culture we live in, many American teens are accustomed to spending a large chunk of their time playing video games, watching tv and movies, texting, and a whole host of other things incorporated into social media.  They sit there, draining hours of their life away in front of a screen. 

            Well, you may say, God commanded us to relax, and have a Sabbath day.  He certainly did, and He took one Himself, but that was after a hard week full of 6 days of work.  We will only feel the true benefit and reward of relaxation after we have worked hard.  Otherwise, it becomes the norm for us. 

            What is time dedicated to electronics when you can invest your time in the life of a person with a soul, who will either face eternity with Jesus, or hell and destruction?  And to think that you could have an impact on a person’s life if God used you to plant a seed!  Summer can be an especially troublesome time with apathy, as many students don’t know what to focus their time on.  Here are some suggestions.

1.     Go on a missions trip!  Your life will be changed forever, you’ll make an impact on people wherever you’re going, and on the people with whom you’re serving.  Don’t let finances get in the way.  If God wants you to go, He will provide the funds.  Start fundraising early, before the end of the year, when people are getting ready to file their tax returns.  You’ll also beat the rush of other students’ support letters.

2.     Volunteer.  With a Christian organization, public or private, at a humane society, soup kitchen, daycare, youth group, church nursery, VBS….volunteers are always needed!  It may not pay in cash, but it pays in Joy, which is priceless.

3.     Read.  A lot!  It will help you be ready for school, because you know you’re going to have to read there.

4.     Learn a new instrument, and use it in praise and worship at church.  God will be glorified, and you’ll be amazed at how the time will fly!

5.     Work.  While making money shouldn’t be the most important goal in our lives, we do have to survive off of it.  Save it up to go on a missions trip!

6.     Exercise.  Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, so make it worthy of His presence!