WHO'S THE BOSS

The Soul Anchor [Hebrews 6:19] - April 1, 2025

Ephesians 5:15-17 says “Pay careful attention, then, to how you live ​— ​not as unwise people but as wise —  making the most of the time, because the days are evil.  So don’t be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.” The King James Translation of verse 16 says that we should “redeem the time.” In other words – get something useful for the time we have been given.

For many of us right now we have been given more unstructured time than we usually have available to us.  Whether it is because your job is considered “nonessential” and therefore you have been asked to stay at home from work or perhaps you are a student whose school is closed.  Whether we are at work or home or school or wherever we may be we are still accountable for how we use our time. 

Ben Patterson is a pastor, author and is formerly the Campus Pastor at Westmont College, my alma mater. I remember a story he told about a time when he found himself with some extra time on his hands. It came by way of two ruptured lumbar discs. The doctor prescribed six weeks of total rest: He recounted,

The horrible pain prevented me from lying in bed. Those weeks were spent on my back on the floor. My eyes didn't focus well, due to the pain-killers and muscle relaxants, so I could scarcely read. I was of no use to the church, I thought. So I asked my wife to bring me the pictorial directory. I decided I'd pray for every member, every day. It took me nearly two hours. This was no great piety; mainly I was bored and frustrated. But toward the end of my convalescence, I said to the Lord, ‘You know, these times of prayer have become sweet. It's too bad I don't have time to do this when I'm at work.’  ‘Stupid,’ the Lord replied pleasantly, ‘you have the same 24 hours each day when you're well. The trouble with you, Ben, is when you're well, you think you're in charge; when you're sick, you know you're not.

Paul said we

should not be foolish but understand what the Lord’s will is.”  If we understand what the will of the Lord is we will know how to best spend our time.  The question is, “Who is the boss of your life, God or you? 

God bless,

Pastor Frank