Lutheran Church of Mahomet, The Invitation 2018 Programming Invitation | Page 8

Like with our finances, time is a finite resource with which we
can do what we please. The question before us is “How gener-
ous have I been with my time, and how can I be more gener-
ous?” Oftentimes, our routines get the best of us—routines and
habits are comforting, and they act as a sort of automation in
our lives. Routines let us switch on the autopilot and reduce
our decision-making energies. This can be a good thing—like
breathing, some habits are at their best when they happen
without having to think about it. But, like automated bill-pay, it
can be easy to lose track of where our time actually goes.
When was the last time you sat down with your calendar and
mapped out your entire day’s structure? How about your entire
week? Or month? When we track our time like we might track
our meals, we can begin to find unused or misused periods and
might think to ourselves “Wow, I could have been doing some-
thing else here.” Being generous with your time is an integral
part of stewarding your gifts. The air that fills your lungs
comes from God, your very life comes from God, and the time
you enjoy on this earth comes from God. Your time is a gift. Be-
ing intentional about using that gift to keep yourself and family
healthy is an example of generous stewardship. Using the gift
of time to serve others, the needy and vulnerable of the world—
that is also an example of generosity. Intentionality and choice
are hallmarks of generous stewardship. Knowing how you
spend your time empowers you to choose how you spend your
time. Being generous with time means choosing to spend your
time caring for the needs of the world.
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