Vol.XV No.IX Pg.3
November 1978

On The Run!!!

Dan S. Shipley

Did you ever wear yourself out on one of those hurried vacation trips to some far away place? The kind where you don't take time to enjoy the beautiful scenery and points of interest along the way? The kind that makes you glad to get back to work because you need the rest? It occurs to me that many of us live like some of us take vacations: in a hurry! We are an on-the-run people, a fact the business world has capitalized upon. They have made it possible for us to eat on the run shave on the run, and even cook while on the run. Trouble is, as with the vacation, we run past some things that deserve our time and attention.

Like, for instance, the parents who run past their children on the way to work, on the way to parties and club meetings. No time to play catch, hear their problems, help with their projects — no time to bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (Eph. 6:4). On the run! — no time to pray with them; help them with Bible class lessons or talk about spiritual subjects. Sure, we have spending money for them; cars for them; clothes for them — just no time for them!

On the run! Not enough time to be a dependable and active member of the Lord's church. Too rushed to prepare for Bible class and often too rushed to even attend. Or, if not, then too tired from being too rushed all the previous week. We're on the run! So, keep the sermon short, songs few and prayers brief. No time to meet the visitors, inquire about the sick or visit with brethren. The cafeteria lines are getting longer, the ball game starts at One — gotta run! On the run! No time for visiting and encouraging the new convert, no time to show our love and concern for those just beginning to walk in newness of life. Too busy to call on our weak brethren. We see them slowly but surely sinking in sin, getting weaker every month. Maybe someone else will go. So we keep on the run. We run past brethren who are infirmed, shut-in, aged, lonely and troubled. But we're no respecter of persons, we run past the sinners too. We pass up wonderful opportunities to teach and influence the lost as though Jesus had said nothing about the value of souls, or about lifting up our eves to fields white unto harvest (Matt. 16:26; John 4:35).

On the run! Too busy! No time! BUT IS THAT REALLY OUR PROBLEM? I think not. I think it is a convenient scapegoat to excuse ourselves. THE REAL PROBLEM IS NOT SO MUCH A LACK OF TIME AS A LACK OF FAITH! As free moral agents, we still determine what will have priority in our lives; most of us still do about what we want — and TAKE the time for what we want. What we need is to quit deceiving ourselves! Our time is not something we just happen to have or not to have — it is a resource to be invested as we choose. "Look therefore carefully how ye walk, not as unwise, but as wise; redeeming the time..." (Eph. 5:15,16). Time is to be our slave, not our master! Careful and wise living means using time in view of eternity. Slow down! Take time to smell the roses-- and prepare for heaven!