“Teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12).
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Israel wandered in the wilderness for forty years. Canaan flowed with milk and honey, waiting to be taken as the Promised Land from God to Abraham. However, because of their disobedience, God decreed a wandering in the desert until all the men of military age at the time of their departure from Egypt, were dead. One after the other, the old generation dropped in the desert, as Israel drifted aimlessly for forty years with no destination in sight. As Moses reflected on this situation, he sought to find some meaning to life and its significance. He pleaded with God to give them insight for wisdom to help guide their lives (Psalm 90:1-12).

First, Moses acknowledged that life is in the hands of the self-existent and everlasting God (Ps. 90:1-3). However, our sense of time is not in sync with that of God. So, coming to terms with the brevity of life and the uncertainty of its duration (5-6; 10), Moses realized that because our journey through life is full of suffering and pain, “we finish our years with a moan” (Ps. 90:9). Moses, therefore, pleaded with God to “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (12).

Time is a priceless commodity. We don’t own it, and we certainly don’t control its duration for our lives. It’s the exclusive prerogative of God. Yet, we have a responsibility to bring meaning to it here on earth. That requires an astute use to make it count according to God’s purpose for our life. Therefore, we have a management job on our hands. We can do so well at planning it; and we must. We can make all the resolutions and engage the latest and sophisticated time management tools; and they are essential. We can have the best schedules and follow them dutifully; and that’s also laudable. However, they mean nothing if we don’t employ eternal perspectives to guide us.

Moses’ conclusion was simply this. Unless we see through God’s eyes and come to grips with the brevity of time and its uncertainty, we cannot impute a proper value to it. But, when we hold time in the scope of eternity, it enlightens our heart and makes it wise. Therefore, we don’t wait until old age to interrogate time. For, “The length of our days … quickly pass, and fly away” (10). We don’t wait till our strength is gone to audit its judicious use. Only a constant review before God makes us wise in its application. The caution is not to wander aimlessly like the Israelites, with no specific destination in sight. Heaven and hell are realities, and only one or the other will open to us when we breathe our last.

How, then, are you using your time? How are those considerations affecting your life choices and engagements?