"All things are created twice. If you are sitting in a car right now, that car was first created by an automotive engineer, then later by a factory worker. If you are in a building, that structure was first created by an architect then later by a building contractor.
This principle of the two creations has strong implications for time management. For example, every meeting we attend is created first by planning then by leading. If we don’t spend time creating the meeting right the first time, we’ll waste not only our own time, but other people’s time as well when we do a clumsy second creation.
Church and ministry programs often suffer when we neglect the first creation. Creating things the first time also gives us an opportunity to pray over projects to see what things shouldn’t be created the second time.
Remembering this principle of the two creations might help us find more of God’s blessing and redeem the time.
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"What is the worst thing that is likely to happen to you today? What kind of contingency plans have you made in case it does happen?
I don’t mean some extremely unusual event such as being struck by a meteorite or a cow exploding in your living room. But rather, where is your day most likely to get hijacked? Where will you most likely face interruptions in your work? Who will they come from and how will you deal with them.
The Bible says the Devil is come to steal, kill and destroy. If that applies to anything, it certainly applies to your time. While we don’t want to be overly focused on negatives to the point of being preoccupied with them and controlled by them, it is sound wisdom to foresee evil approaching and take steps to be prepared for it if it happens.
Taking a moment to consider today’s contingency plans is a small investment of time that may greatly redeem the time.
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"I recently noticed an older lady with an Eastern European accent working the counter in an airport news stand. I noticed her because she had unusual enthusiasm for her work. She greeted customers with a great smile and seemed best friends with all the airport employees. I soon discovered the source of her enthusiasm as she gave glory to the Lord Jesus.
What a tremendous testimony it is when we can meet real life examples of someone letting their light shine as they go about their daily routine.
George Washington Carver, a man of outstanding character himself, said, ""When you do the common things of life in an uncommon way, you will command the attention of the world."" That's an excellent way to put it.
Think about your daily routine. Is there an uncommon way you could carry it out today, not to draw attention just to yourself, but to Christ living in you?
Doing common things in an uncommon way is one of the best ways to redeem the time.
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"Someone made the point that childhood has an expiration date. That’s an articulate way of saying exactly what the Apostle Paul said in the great love chapter, 1 Corinthians 13, where he said, “When I became a man, I put away childish things.”
Unfortunately, the trend today is to prolong childhood beyond its natural expiration date by continuing to spend time with childish things on into our young adult years. I heard a story of one mother who allowed her son to continue to live in her home after he graduated from high school and never asked him to contribute anything to the family. His meals and shelter were supplied while he watched TV all day.
Eventually his mother grew too old to work. As the pantry shelves grew bare he asked where their food would come from. When his mother said they would starve, he finally did what he should have done years earlier. He got a job and began redeeming the time.
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