Pastor Ken
Psalm 90: 12 says, “Teach us how to number our days, so that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” The context of this verse is that the righteous God will one day execute judgment and hold us accountable for what we’ve done. Before that day comes, we need to use wisdom to decide how we should live.
In order to effectively plan our time, it is crucial to know the deadline, which signifies the completion of a task and the submission of its outcomes. Working backward, we can set up goals, lay out steps and strategies, and manage our resources. For example, if a couple plans to get married at the end of February next year. They may need to finish decorating their new home one week before the wedding. Perhaps one month before that, they’ll have parties with close friends to bid farewell to their single lives. Two months prior, they should finalize the guest list for the wedding banquet, etc. If they don’t think it through, they won’t be able to share the joy of wedding with friends and relatives on that big day. They themselves may even run into problems due to unexpected incidents.
A book that has taught me a lot about life planning is The three boxes of life and how to get out of them by R.N. Bolles. For most people in this era, life is divided into three stages—education, work, and retirement—just like three boxes. During the education stage, we study hard and learn. After we start working, we devote all our time to pursuing a career. During the retirement years, we enjoy leisure day after day. The problem is, no one knows how long we’ll live. A friend of mine died of illness less than two years after he retired and never enjoyed leisure in his life. If we optimize our life plans to ensure a harmonious blend of learning, contribution, and leisure in every stage (box), the duration of our lives becomes irrelevant. We still can enjoy every stage and find meaning in it.
Ever since I adopted the author’s advice, the only regret I had was about my education years because I didn’t seek opportunities to serve and enjoy leisure. During my work days, I pursued for continued learning and exploration and maximized the benefits of the three-month sabbatical offered to me every seven years. Even after retirement, I’m still interested in learning new things and trying to identify avenues to contribute. I don’t seem to have any regrets.
As followers of Jesus Christ, counting the days means seizing every chance to use our talents to glorify God and benefit mankind. Perhaps in our later years, it is wise to acknowledge and embrace the limitations of our physical abilities. We reduce activities that engage in manual labor or take place in the evenings.
On the other hand, many retirees enjoy the freedom of fewer obligations and responsibilities. We have more time for everything, which may lead to a lack of purpose. A friend who is older than I once said, “Every day passes as if I’m waiting for death. There isn’t much meaning in living.” Psalm 90 laments the brevity of life. However, the author has two hopes. One is to see God’s deeds, appreciate God’s glory, and enjoy God’s love, thereby leading to joy. The other is to continue to work, not necessarily to make money, but to use one’s talents, unleash one’s creativity, and express one’s feelings. Following God and realizing these two hopes, life will be meaningful.
Ask God to teach us how to count the days and plan better. No matter what stage of life we are in, we can experience walking with God in our daily life and enjoy His love.
