January 28

Right use of time

“Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee” (Psa. 39:5).
“Pass the time of your sojourning here in fear” (1 Peter 1:17).

He who knows the value of time, and will redeem it from useless chitchat and trifling visits, will find enough for all the purposes of his own salvation, the cultivation of his mind, and the work of the ministry. He to whom time is not precious, who lives not by rule, never finds time sufficient for anything, is always in a hurry, and never capable of bringing one good purpose to proper effect.—Adam Clarke.

People complain because their days are few, then act as though there could be no end to them.—Addison.


When as a child I laughed and wept, time crept.
When as a youth I dreamed and talked, time walked.
When I became a full grown man, time ran.
And later as I older grew, time flew.
Soon I shall find while traveling on, time gone.
Then in the great eternity, what then?

Spend your time in nothing which you know must be repented of. Spend it on nothing on which you might not pray for the blessing of God. Spend it on nothing which you could not review with a quiet conscience on your dying bed. Spend it on nothing which you might not safely and properly be doing if death should surprise you in the act.—Richard Baxter.

’Tis not for man to trifle! Life is brief.
And sin is here.
Our age is but the falling of a leaf,
A dropping tear.
We have no time to sport away the hours;
All must be earnest in a world like ours.
—Horatius Bonar.

The orderly arrangement of time is like a ray of light which darts itself through all our occupations.

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