Phillips Brooks wrote: “A friend says to me, ‘I have not time or room in my life for Christianity. If it were not so full! You don’t know how hard I work from morning till night. When have I time, where have I room for Christianity in such a life as mine?’ It is as if the engine had said it had no room for the steam. It is as if the tree said it had no room for the sap. It is as if the ocean said it had no room for the tide. It is as if the man had said he had no room for his soul. It is as if the life had said it had no time to live. It is not something added to life; it is life. A man is not living without it. And for a man to say, ‘I am so full in life that I have no room for life,’ you see immediately to what absurdity it reduces itself.”

The first wise use of time is that moment of coming in faith to Christ that brings new birth. Jesus said: “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). From that point on, wisdom dictates using time to lay treasures in heaven through service for Christ.

It is wise to take time to pray.

It is wise to take time to read the Bible.

It is wise to take time to tell others of Jesus.

It is wise to take time to help those who are in need.

It is wise to take time to bear the burdens of those who are troubled. It is wise to value spiritual things above material things.

It is wise to act in faith.

In view of the brevity of life, we must learn to number our days and apply our hearts to wisdom. Any other course results in a wasted life.