Stewardship

The Thief of Time: How We Let Our Most Precious Resource Slip Away

by Brother Carlton 
02/20/25
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Time—one of God’s greatest gifts, yet we treat it like that extra ketchup packet in the fridge. We know it’s valuable, but we just let it sit there, unused or wasted. Scripture reminds us to “redeem the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:16), but if we’re honest, many of us are better at redeeming coupons than redeeming time.

How do we let time slip through our fingers? Let’s take a look at a few ways we unintentionally become poor stewards of it.

The Snooze Button Trap
Ah, the snooze button—our favorite morning lie. “Just five more minutes,” we say. And then it’s five more. And five more. Before we know it, we’ve snoozed our way into the next ice age. While rest is essential (even Jesus took naps!), oversleeping turns us into sluggish servants rather than diligent disciples. Proverbs 6:9 asks, “How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep?” Ouch. Convicted yet?

Kitchen Chaos
God provided food for nourishment, not as an all-day cooking show. While preparing healthy meals is important, some of us turn meal prep into a full-blown production. Between searching for the “perfect” recipe, chopping veggies like we’re on Iron Chef, and scrubbing dishes that never seem to end, we’ve burned three hours—and probably the rice, too.

Procrastination Nation
Why do today what you can put off until next year? Procrastination is the thief that sneaks in while we scroll through endless YouTube shorts, convincing ourselves we’ll “get to it later.” Before we know it, we’ve watched a llama dance to gospel music but still haven’t finished our actual task. Jesus told us, “The night cometh when no man can work” (John 9:4), so maybe it’s time to stop scrolling and start doing.

Talk, Talk, Talk
We all know that person who can talk for hours but never actually say anything. Conversations can be valuable, but sometimes they turn into verbal marathons with no finish line. Whether it’s gossip, complaining, or reliving last Sunday’s sermon for the fifth time, excessive talking can drain both time and energy. Proverbs 10:19 warns, “When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.” In other words—sometimes, less is more.

Retail Therapy (a.k.a. Wandering the Aisles of Distraction)
We enter the store for one thing. We leave with everything but that one thing. How did this happen? Well, those strategically placed “must-haves” lured us in like fish on a hook. And don’t even get started on online shopping—one click leads to another, and before we know it, we’ve bought a set of monogrammed towels for a cousin we barely talk to. Jesus said, “Take heed and beware of covetousness” (Luke 12:15), yet here we are, accumulating stuff we don’t need while wasting time we’ll never get back.

Endless Entertainment
There’s nothing wrong with enjoying a good movie or catching a game, but let’s be real—some people treat watching sports like a full-time job. They know every stat, every player, and every replay…but do they know Genesis from Revelation? Watching others play isn’t the same as participating in life. Paul told Timothy to “exercise thyself rather unto godliness” (1 Timothy 4:7), but some of us are more concerned about fantasy football than our faith walk.

Addiction to the “Next Video” Button
If you’ve ever said, “Just one more video,” and then an hour later found yourself watching a tutorial on how to knit a sweater for a turtle, you’re not alone. Short-form videos are designed to keep us hooked, but let’s face it—none of those clips are helping us grow spiritually, mentally, or financially. 1 Corinthians 10:23 reminds us, “All things are lawful, but not all things are beneficial.” Translation: Just because we can watch 57 short videos in a row doesn’t mean we should.

Jesus: The Ultimate Time Steward
If we really want to know how to use our time wisely, we need to look at Jesus. He didn’t waste time on pointless distractions—He prayed (Luke 5:16), taught and preached (Mark 1:38), healed the sick (Matthew 14:14), and invested in people (Mark 3:14). He even redeemed downtime, like when He turned a simple water break at a well into a powerful moment of evangelism (John 4:7-26).

Unlike us, Jesus never needed to “kill time” because He saw every moment as an opportunity. If He was intentional with His time, shouldn’t we be?

Redeeming the Time

Time isn’t just money—it’s life. Once it’s gone, we can’t get it back. When we stand before God, we won’t wish we had watched more TV, bought more gadgets, or spent more time arguing about sports. We’ll wish we had prayed more, loved more, and invested in things that truly matter.

So, before you hit “next episode” or wander aimlessly through another store, ask yourself: Is this the best use of my time? If the answer is no, maybe it’s time to take Paul’s advice and “redeem the time” (Ephesians 5:16). Because let’s be honest—life is too short for wasted minutes, wasted days, and wasted purpose.

Now, go forth and steward your time well—before you get distracted again.

Brother Carlton ministers the gospel to the Los Angeles area. Formerly a Hollywood actor, SAG member, and property cleanup expert, he now spends most of his time studying the Scriptures and helping small businesses grow more profitably using world-class tactics and strategies. He also offers business coaching and inspirational speaking to help entrepreneurs and individuals achieve greater success. If you're a business owner looking to increase revenue, attract more customers, or need a dynamic speaker for your next event, contact me at [email protected].  Put help in the subject line.