December 29, 2008 - Clock Management

Here we are at the dawn of a new year. Time just keeps on ticking away. The question is “What are you gonna do with that time?” In sports we call it clock management.

As we approach the New Year I would like to encourage and remind you of a few things:

We don’t have a big clock in the sky to tell us how much time is left in our “game.” Yet we do see things lining up Scripturally that Christ’s return appears very near. And we obviously don’t know our own individual timelines.

1 Do not boast about tomorrow,
For you do not know what a day may bring forth. (Proverbs 27)

Does that mean we don’t make plans (or resolutions)? Absolutely not! It means we don’t put things off until “tomorrow” instead of taking care of business today. It means we are disciplined in carrying out our plans – realizing the uncertainty of time. John Wooden said it this way: “Discipline yourself so others won’t have to.”

16 redeeming the time… (Ephesians 5a)

I do think we should make some resolutions for this year. They should be prioritized based upon the uncertainty of time. What things are important in light of eternity? How are you going to manage your daily clock?

Coach Wooden said you should “make each day your masterpiece.” Tim McGraw sang that he wished you could “live like you were dying.”

To me as a coach it comes down to the very basics. What choices are you going to make? Resolutions are simply a “game plan.” Are you going to follow that plan?

(For other reading look at Proverbs 24:3-34. This will remind you of the alternative of being a “sluggard.”)