Walk Carefully; Spend Wisely

“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” ESV Ephesians 5:15-16

Time. Where does it go? The older I get, the faster time seems to move and the harder it is to harness. Time is indeed a precious possession. As a matter of fact, time and money are probably two of the most precious resources that we have under our control. Are you making good use of them?

On two occasions lately I’ve posed the question: ‘If I handed you $150, what could you do with it?’ Both times, the groups were fairly large but the answers were very similar and predictable. Someone is always charitably inclined, but much more common are responses like I’d buy groceries, shoes, clothes, etc. In America, $150 just doesn’t buy much today.

Recently I’ve had the opportunity to get acquainted with the story of a missionary in India. This is an area of the world located in what has become known as the “10/40 window;” an area with the highest concentration of non-Christians in the world. This missionary lives in a border town next to a “closed country” that is hostile towards Christianity. The country’s primary religion is a form of Buddhism; Christianity is outlawed and those who practice it are severely persecuted.

The personal testimony of this missionary is chilling. The missionary’s eyes were opened through the question (and subsequent conversation) Nicodemus posed to Jesus: “How can a man be born when he is old?” Meditating on this scripture, the missionary finally realized that salvation is a spiritual birth into the kingdom of God and not a physical one. The missionary goes on to express great joy at the realization that God had indeed worked a spiritual birth in their own life. Being a born again child of God is indeed a joyous realization!

Since that time, this missionary has pursued formal biblical studies and made a lifetime commitment to carrying the gospel to women and children both at home and to the closed country next door.

The obstacles to such a commitment are many. The cost of living is relatively high for the region; transportation is difficult; the culture and established religious tradition is working against any and every effort to share Christianity. Additionally, missionaries have to provide for their own families and commit time and money to ministry expenses at the same time. In this sense, the culture is not that different from our own; time and money are precious resources to be used wisely because “the days are evil.”

There is however one glaring difference between our cultures. This particular missionary has a financial need (for living expenses and ministry expenses) of $150…$150 per month…total. Does that send chills down your spine?

Think about it. For the price of a pair of shoes, for the price of a trip grocery shopping, for the price of a coat, this missionary can be fully supported in for an entire month. For the price of a pair of shoes you and I can put “feet” to the gospel by supporting and equipping a missionary abroad.

When I think of how wasteful and flippant we are in this country with our time and money my stomach begins to churn. Are you making good use of the time? Are you making good use of your money? Are you a good steward? The days are evil. Walk carefully and spend wisely. The late Jim Elliot, a missionary and Christian martyr himself, once said: “He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep in order to gain what he cannot lose.”

-Ken Askew