I have little time for small talk and even less patience for trivial conversations. It’s not that I’m a jerk, I just have a keen awareness of how little time we have left on earth. My focus is on making the most of the time God entrusts to me (Ephesians 5:15-16). I like sports. I have political opinions. But we have to talk about things that matter, things of consequence.
Our conversation reflects what fills our hearts (Matthew 12:34), and if what fills our hearts are things having no eternal value, we are in serious trouble. We’re wasting our time on things that are passing away instead of investing it in God’s eternal Kingdom (1 John 2:17).
Peter scolds believers to stop wasting their time on the things of this world (1 Peter 4:3). He says there has already been enough time spent on sinful desires. The implication is it is time to get serious and live for things that matter. If we keep on living for the things of this world, we’re going to lose everything (Luke 9:25). If all we talk about are earthly things, we’re never going to grasp the majesty of God. There is more to life than pleasure, entertainment, and politics. We have a higher calling than this (Philippians 3:19-20).
Like Paul, I am the chief of sinners. I’d wager I’m a worse sinner than you, so don’t take this as me coming from some lofty, holy place. I’m broken, just like you. It is only God’s endless pursuit of me that drives me to a determined pursuit of Him (Philippians 3:12). I want to bring glory to God in the things I say and do, to glorify Him in the way I treat my wife and care for my family. My desire is to consume my mind with thoughts of His glory so that what bleeds out of me is only Jesus. I want to make the most of my time here to prepare myself for an eternity with my Lord (Colossians 3:2).
When you spend your time focusing on mindless entertainment, regardless of whatever form that takes for you, you are playing into the Devil’s hands. You aren’t resisting him (James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:8-9); you are affirming him! You’re acknowledging the things of this life are more worthwhile than the wonderful life God has for you. When spending our time, we consistently choose Satan over Jesus. Rationalize it all you want, but that’s what’s happening.
In our words, thoughts, and actions, we are wasting our time. Never forget God gave you this one life to accomplish the work He intends you to do (Ephesians 2:10). We should live every moment for God’s glory, not for ourselves. The fact is, we’ve gotten so comfortable in this world that we don’t know how to talk about anything else. We’d rather discuss the latest political squabble, viral video, or trending tweet than engage in a deep theological discussion. Instead of surrendering everything to Jesus, we try to hold on to those things we can never keep (Matthew 6:19-21). If we love Jesus as we claim to, shouldn’t He be the focus of our lives and conversations? Until we stop wasting our time, we’ll be wasting our life.