There are countless ways to improve your time management skills. And that’s a lot of what we talk about here: For example, you can learn to prioritize your to-dos, prepare your day the night before, or track your time.
Tools and techniques have their place. The danger for Christians, however, is that we can be tempted to focus so much on tactics that we lose sight of the bigger picture. So, before we speed on to methods, we’ve got to first make sure we’ve got the right mindset about time management.
In Colossians 3:2, the apostle urges us to “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” This is a call to be eternally minded.
What’s this have to do with time management?
Literally everything.
Managing Your Time in Light of Eternity
This is precisely where so many Christians go wrong regarding time management. We forget that, as believers in Christ Jesus, we operate on an eternal timeline. And that should make all the difference in how we manage our time. See, it’s not about whether we choose this tactic or that tactic, or this app over that app—what differentiates a productive Christian from a productive unbeliever is that the Christian manages their time in light of eternity.
When you manage your time in light of eternity you live life backward. You remember that your ultimate goal isn’t the praise of men, earthly riches, or a comfortable life; it’s the glory of God. It’s living as if you truly believe that a successful life is summed up in six words: “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:23).
How to Manage Your Time in Reverse
So, how do you apply an eternal outlook to how you manage your time? Thankfully, it’s actually not that complicated.
Talk to any successful person, and they’ll tell you you need to clearly define your goals. Then, you plan backwards how to reach them. Want to run a marathon? You’ve got to work your way up to 26.2 miles. So, you set intermediate goals: 5 miles, 8 miles, 10 miles, 13.1 miles. You create a training plan to help you hit those goals. Clear goals, broken down into milestones, powered by disciplined habits. That’s how you get big things done. That’s just wisdom.
What if we applied that same wisdom to the Christian life? What if we clearly defined what “well done” looks like, according to the Scriptures, in our context? Maybe we even write out a “well done” statement to bring definition to it.
Then, what if we defined what long-term aspirations would help bring us closer to that kind of faithfulness in the next five years. And then, what if we took aim at those aspirations, one-by-one, using clear goals? And what if we broke those goals down into projects, habits, and weekly plans?
Before long, you’re looking at a plan for leading a faithful life. You’re managing how you invest your time in your vocation, relationships, church, and leisure, not just for today but in light of eternity. You’re not managing time according to a 10-year plan, but a 10,000-year plan.
If your chief desire is to hear that “well done, good and faithful servant,” then, by faith, start managing your time toward that end. Live life with intention and focus. Martial whatever tools and resources are available to you, steward the time you’ve been given, live with purpose to honor the God you love, in His power, and for His glory.
The First Step
Let me leave you with a single action step to help you better steward your time for eternity: Start by planning how you will spend your time each week.
Click here to download a free weekly review and planning template.
