# 2 - What does "Time for God" Mean?

I have been chewing on this question for several days now: What does it mean to Tithe 144 minutes to God each day?  What does it look like?  How is it done?  What “qualifies” as time spent for God?

In my search for the answer, I sent a quick note to a few godly people I know (don’t feel bad if you didn’t get a note, I used the condensed short-list).  After reading their responses and praying (and an hour long nap…remember the mono?) I think I have my answer:

There is no definitive answer!  

Is that a cop-out?  No, I don’t think so.  What I have determined is that the answer is different for each person.  Certainly prayer, Bible study and communion with God are essential parts of our daily walk with God.  But as far as taking time to serve Him each day, this can take so many forms that I could not possibly list them.  

I was reminded by these wise men and women that we do not “benefit” God by our actions, for he is God and we cannot improve His standing.  In fact, when we tithe, we are not “giving” God anything; He already owns all.  What we are doing through our tithe of time is returning a portion of the time we are given to strengthen our walk with him and draw others to Him.

This means that each of us, through our gifts and talents, must decide how we use our time, and what sacrifices we can make to return that portion to God.  For some it may mean stepping out of our comfort zone to enter a new area of worship.  It may mean stepping back and encouraging others to grow rather than taking the lead.  It might mean mentoring a child in need, or writing letters to lonely people.  Or, as in my case, it may mean (at this time at least) focusing completely on studying, praying and quietly listening for God’s voice (for those of you who know me, you can see where the “quietly listening” part is an effort).

Perhaps for many of us, the solution is not a physical change of our actions, but rather a mental and spiritual change in our attitudes.  Many years ago, my husband and I worked in a small mission center in Eastern Kentucky that housed a private school.  One year the plumbing in the kindergarten room failed, and we were forced to provide a portable toilet system for that portion of the school building.  (OK…think about this one for a moment….portable toilet…kindergarteners…mostly boys…get the picture?) 

The responsibility for emptying and cleaning this “solution” fell upon my husband.  At first he was disgusted and less than enthusiastic.  God, however, in his wisdom reminded my husband that everything we do, we do for Him.  While I cannot say that the grossness of the task was reduced, the attitude adjustment was complete.  What we do for the Lord should be done joyfully after all…even cleaning a toilet.

So, as I sit quietly and wait upon the Lord, what will you be doing?  Remember whatever you do in the name of Christ is done for Christ.
               

And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.

Matthew 25:40

The Ground Rules :#1 - Gross or Net?

Every good idea needs a plan of action.  After all, goals without plans are just dreams.  So, if I am going to tithe 144 minutes of my time for God, I need to develop some definitive parameters.  We will, dear reader, address those questions one at a time (since I tend to be wordy and you would quickly grow weary)

1.       How do I arrive at the 144 minute tithe?

This first question is really a question of semantics. What exactly is a tithe?  Do I tithe the waking hours I can actually do something, or include all those hours I am (supposedly) sleeping?  It is much like the question that arises when we discuss the financial tithe:  Gross or Net?  It has been our determination that tithing the Net is counterproductive.  After all, aren’t we supposed to give the “first portion” to God?  If we are giving only on the net of our income, then the government is taking the “first portion” and I certainly am not going to consider the government my God.  (Can I hear an “Amen”?)  

Tithing 10% of a full 24 hours serves the same purpose.  Sleep is for my benefit, so if I tithe my time after I sleep, I am getting the “first portion” and I am not (contrary to the belief of many former students) a god! (Insert another “Amen” here.)

144 minutes does seem like a pretty big chunk of the day, doesn’t it?  How much time do I really have? After all, I must include time for my personal hygiene (for the benefit of all), nutrition (man cannot live on Poptarts alone…it am pretty sure that is in Leviticus) and upkeep of the home (Proverbs 31 woman and all).  But what about those time-suckers…those things that are not essential to the running of my life…Facebook, scrabble blast, writing blogs that no one reads, Farkle…what I am willing to eliminate to give God what He is due?  

While you are reading this, I will be trimming out the deadwood; when I am done, I am quite certain there will more than 144 minutes to spare!

Blessings!

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
   but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. 

Knowing You Have a Problem.......

THE PROBLEM:

Time has long been the victim of cliché upon cliché:  

“Time is precious”           

“Time heals all wounds”

“Time is the essence”

“Time flies when you are having fun”

It seems that as “time flies,” we find ourselves, “time and time again,” trying to find that “stitch in time” “at the eleventh hour” to finish our tasks “in the nick of time.”   We are “living on borrowed time,” reminding ourselves that “Rome wasn’t built in a day” so we need to “take time to smell the roses.”

You get the idea.  

The fact is that as a society we are obsessed with time.  Our cell phones, computers, IPods and GPS units all keep track of it for us.  Society is running at such a fast pace that the immediate has taken precedent over the important.  I know that for me personally, the reality of time runs about 30 seconds ahead of my daily schedule.  I am always trying to catch up.  At 48, I have found myself in college full time, caring for elderly in-laws, dealing with doctors’ appointments, hospital stays, trying to be a wife, a mother, grandmother,  spend time with my terminally ill sister…this list grows longer every day.  Time alone with God has been a struggle, and it continues to be.

DIVINE INTERVENTION?

Enter the equalizer of all things:  Mononucleosis! 

After months of taxing myself physically, I have finally fallen to the reality that I am not Wonder Woman.  (This is probably best, because spandex is just not a good idea for someone of my frame!)  

 Early in January time was brought abruptly to a halt with the reality of a rather severe case of mono.   I found myself confined to quarters regardless of the needs of others around me.  I was once again reminded that "you can’t take care of anyone if you don’t take care of yourself."  (It should be pointed out at this time that I have told countless people this, it just wasn’t supposed to apply to me)  Perhaps that Someone who orders the universe decided to bring me to a halt…just long enough to realize that this time is not “my” time, but "His" time.  

And so…at this time, while forced against my will into a slower pace, I have decided to devote my time to building a habit of time management that can carry back into my busy schedule when I re-enter the mainstream of humanity.  After all “there is a time for every purpose under Heaven.” 

This time is my time to  use the time God has given me to make the time to tithe my time back to him…(if you understood that line, you are amazing).