Every Moment Matters

‘Be very careful, then, how you live —not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.  Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.’ Eph 4:15-17 

One of my most satisfying duties as the chairman of the Dover Park Hospice was to commission a new logo for the hospice. Designed by DP Architects’ creative unit, the logo features two forms, the Circle of Life and the Dove. The Circle represents the passage of life, the trials and experiences of life well-lived. Significantly, the Circle is not enclosed, allowing the Dove to soar free and take flight, full of hope and dignity. The tagline “Every Moment Matters” is inspired by the words of Dame Cicely Saunders, founder of the modern hospice movement.

“You matter because you are you, and you matter to the end of your life.” - Dame Cicely Saunders. 

Every moment matters is a philosophy for living. We should live as if we savour every moment, every minute and every day. With every passing moment we should live well, not only for ourselves, but also for others and God. A certain smile, a kind word or a brilliant thought can have an everlasting impact. Conversely, a momentary inattention, a missed opportunity can exact dire consequences. (See Panasonic Commercial below for a dramatic illustration).

We are familiar with the phrase ‘In God we live and move and have our being.’ In theology, this refers to ‘Coram Deo’, which is Latin for ‘before the face of God.’ Coram Deo, conveys the idea of living one’s entire life in the presence of God, under the authority of God and to the glory of God. 

Benjamin Franklin understood this when he said, "Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of." 

When we visited the Amish county at Lancashire, Pennsylvania in 1992, I bought a wooden plaque engraved with an Amish proverb, ‘Ve get too soon oldt and too late schmardt.’

Consider the life of Charles Thomas Studd. He established an enduring Christian missionary society, the World Evangelisation Crusade. Studd was the son of a wealthy indigo planter and a leading cricketer. He played for England in the 1882 cricket match between England and Australia which was the origin of the famous Ashes cricket tournament. Despite the chance to be a famous international sportsman, in February 1885, C.T along with a group of young men, called the ‘Cambridge Seven’ set sail from England to become missionaries. They volunteered to serve in China after attending meetings at Cambridge University, following Hudson Taylor in the newly established, China Inland Missions.

After more than 10 years service in China C.T. Studd left the country to pastor a church in South India from 1900 to 1906. In 1910 he went to the Sudan and Belgian Congo. In 1913, he started four mission stations and went on to  establish the World Evangelism Crusade which today continues to send missionaries to South America, Central Asia and the Middle East as well as Africa.

C.T. gave away a sizeable portion of his family inheritance to help the work of George Muller, D. L. Moody and others on the mission field. At the age of seventy, C.T. Studd died, but his vision for China, India and Africa had expanded to reach the whole world.

He wrote this poem, One Life. 

Two little lines I heard one day,

Traveling along life's busy way;

Bringing conviction to my heart, 

And from my mind would not depart;

Only one life, 'twill soon be past, 

Only what's done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one, 

Soon will its fleeting hours be done;

Then, in 'that day' my Lord to meet, 

And stand before His Judgment seat;

Only one life, 'twill soon be past, 

Only what's done for Christ will last.

Only one life, the still small voice, 

Gently pleads for a better choice

Bidding me selfish aims to leave, 

And to God's holy will to cleave;

Only one life, 'twill soon be past, 

Only what's done for Christ will last.

Only one life, a few brief years, 

Each with its burdens, hopes, and fears;

Each with its days I must fulfill, 

living for self or in His will;

Only one life, 'twill soon be past, 

Only what's done for Christ will last.

When this bright world would tempt me sore, 

When Satan would a victory score;

When self would seek to have its way, 

Then help me Lord with joy to say;

Only one life, 'twill soon be past, 

Only what's done for Christ will last.

Give me Father, a purpose deep, 

In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep;

Faithful and true what e'er the strife, 

Pleasing Thee in my daily life;

Only one life, 'twill soon be past, 

Only what's done for Christ will last.

Oh let my love with fervor burn, 

And from the world now let me turn;

Living for Thee, and Thee alone, 

Bringing Thee pleasure on Thy throne;

Only one life, 'twill soon be past, 

Only what's done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one, 

Now let me say, “Thy will be done”;

And when at last I'll hear the call, 

I know I'll say "'twas worth it all";

Only one life, 'twill soon be past, 

Only what's done for Christ will last

Make the best use of the time we have. There is much good to do with our lives. May the Lord show us the way. Every moment matters.

In His time, in His time

He makes all things beautiful

In his time

Lord please show me everyday

As you're teaching me your way

That you do just what you say

In your time

In your time, in your time

You make all things beautiful

In your time

Lord my life to you I bring

May each song I have to sing

Be to you a lovely thing

In your time

Lord please show me everyday

As you teaching me your way

That you do just what you say

In your time

Lord my life to you I bring

May each song I have to sing

Be to you a lovely thing

In your time

Be to you a lovely thing

In your time

Lionel

Updated 1st Published Jul 2012

The Rat Race

'In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.' Proverbs 16:9

'Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world and we can take nothing out of it' 1 Timothy 6:6-7.

 

The Rat Race is a perennial struggle of human beings to get to the top. It is a endless competition to get ahead at all cost. This expression was introduced in the 1930 to describe a exhausting, pressured urban life spent in trying to get ahead with little time for rest. Here is a tragic depiction of modern society in a cartoon feature by Steve Curtis entitled Rat Race.

The Rat race runners try to burn the candle at both ends, they are always busy, busy, busy. It is an incessant push for success. Centuries ago King Solomon condemned it as an endless, self-defeating, or pointless pursuit. Since then, we have not learnt from the wisdom of Solomon.

In the Book of Ecclesiastes, King Solomon spoke of the uselessness and monotony of everyday life. He used the term 'under the sun' when he described that life as useless (Ecc 1:3). One can interpret this term 'under the sun' as life on earth. Solomon said in Ecc 1:4, "You spend your life working and what do you have to show for it."

Charles Swindoll in his bible study guide on the Book of Ecclesiastes entitled 'Living On The Ragged Edge' (Ref 1) gave a realistic appraisal of this futile race

• People Living Under Oppressive Conditions. Ecc 4:1 'Then I looked again at all the injustice that goes on in this world. The oppressed were weeping and no one would help them.'

• People Living Under Aggressive Competition Ecc 4:4 'I have also learnt why people work so hard to succeed: it is because  they envy their neighbours. But it is useless. It is like chasing the wind.' 

Charles Swindoll wrote, 'Solomon is not referring to healthy, ethical competition. What he has in mind is the one-on-one rivalry of pushing, fighting and clawing - the vicious determination of two people to outdo one another at any cost.'

The saddest insanity of all is the man who is alone without any relatives or children labouring endlessly to make his millions to leave to nobody. Ecc 4:7-8 'I have noticed something else in life that is useless. Here is a man who lives alone. he has no son, no brother, yet he is always working never satisfied with the wealth he has. For whom is he working so hard and denying himself any pleasure? This is useless too and a miserable way to live.' Here is a perfect picture of someone who is enslaved to the Rat Race, the pursuit of wealth.

But Solomon in the Book of Ecclesiastes did not paint just doom and gloom. Yes, the book exposes the realities of life but it qualified this by making the claim that this is only true when applied to an existence without God. The only way to get out of this cycle of futility of life is to believe in God and to live as He intended for us.

In the same way, the young people would do well to prevent themselves entering the Rat Race by believing in God early. 'Remember your creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, I find no pleasure in life' Ecc 12:1.

Living God's way as a Christian does not automatically mean we will have no struggle with life. Life was difficult for the early Christians and also for some today. Nevertheless we are told to persevere. Indeed Christians enter a different race of endurance and keeping the faith despite hardships and even persecution for some. 

St Paul told the young disciple, Timothy, 'Join me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs but tries to please his commanding officer' 2 Timothy 2:3-4. 

Like a soldier under discipline we do not get entangled in the rat race or be sucked into the lures of this world. 'Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs' 1 Timothy 6:9-10. Ecc 4:4 and 6 advised 'it is better to have a little, with peace of mind, than to be busy all the time with both hands, trying to catch the wind'.

We may plan all we like but eventually God will direct our paths. So what is God's way? In Ecclesiastes 9:11a, Solomon advised, "I have seen something else under the sun; the race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favour to the learned; but time and chance overtake them all" Yes while man proposes God disposes and He has a way of leveling even the best plans of clever, powerful and assertive people. 

Hence St Paul advised young Timothy, "But you, man of God, flee from this and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith. Take hold of eternal life for which you are called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses" 1 Timothy 6:11-12.

Many people run the Rat Race but Christians should walk with Jesus. Enjoy this song, Just A Closer Walk With Thee.

I am weak but Thou art strong

Jesus keep me from all wrong

I'll be satisfied as long

As I walk, let me walk close to Thee

Just a closer walk with Thee

Grant it, Jesus, is my plea

Daily walking close to Thee

Let it be, dear Lord, let it be 

Through this world of toil and snares,

If I falter, Lord, who cares?

Who with me my burden shares?

None but Thee, dear Lord, none but Thee.

When my feeble life is o’er,

Time for me will be no more;

Guide me gently, safely o’er

To Thy kingdom shore, to Thy shore.

 

Lionel

Ref 1: Charles R Swindoll. Living on the Ragged Edge - Coming to terms with Reality, Insight for Living, 1976