Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.

Colossians 4:5

I am currently reading a book entitled, Not Young, Not Old, Not Done by Pastor and author Christopher Ash. I suppose that as we age, we value time more so that it goes without saying that once a moment, an hour, a day is passed, it is lost forever.

If you value time, you don’t want to waste your allotment. Years ago, a friend of mine told me of his technique to gain access to some difficult to reach physicians. He would write on his business card – be prompt. be brief. be gone. It was his way of telling his customer that he valued their time, he would be concise and to the point and then he would “be gone.” It worked for him and I’ve used it over the years as well.

As Paul sat in prison as a result of his effort to reach others with the Gospel, he realized the importance of the moment. Making the best use of his time meant that he would act wisely when encountering others. Jesus encouraged the same – “Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves” (Matthew 10:16).

Both Jesus and Paul are referring to interacting with people who do not share your faith as a follower of Christ and so, from what I glean from the verses above, I can learn a couple of things that apply to both my interactions around faith and in day to day conversation.

• Know your audience. Be aware of who they are, how they communicate, how they respond and the circumstances of the moment. When Jesus spoke to the woman in John 4, He carefully guided the conversation in a caring, genuine manner that changed the life of the woman and her whole village.
• Don’t waste your time. Be focused. When Paul spoke the the philosophers and thinkers in Athens, he found common ground between their culture and his and then presented the life-changing message of Christ.

This kind of focus refers to a certain kind of readiness and flexibility on our part. How prepared are you today for what lies ahead? Let us be ready to make the most of every opportunity and let us recognize the value of today.