Jesus knew His life was but a vapor—a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes (James 4:14). Yet He made the most of every opportunity (Eph. 5:16) and remembered His purpose while on earth. His time was not his own. He was merely a steward of what God had given Him.
What is a steward? The steward is not the owner, but he represents the owner—in caring for the owner’s possessions, speaking for him, serving him, etc.
Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. (1 Pet. 4:10-11)
Jesus was the ideal steward for God. He taught us to set aside self and seek the Father’s glory, not our own. Jesus was clear that all He did here on earth was as a representative of the Father. He saw time as a gift—time that God owned and that He had provided Jesus in order to accomplish His will.
I tend to forget that. Time is a gift—a blessing and not a right. I get frustrated when someone places demands on my time. But is it really my time anyway?
And when I waste my time, I am wasting God’s time.
Jesus knew His time was not his own.
So, today, when I get pulled in a million directions, when I feel overwhelmed, or frustrated about time that seems to be flying me by, I will pause and remember, “I am only a steward of the time God has given me. It’s His time. How can I use it to his glory?”