My first stint as an educator was chosen by the clock.
My training was in pastoral studies. But I was being asked to become a high school teacher in a Christian school. In 256 undergraduate-graduate semester hours I had precisely 6 hours in any type of teaching preparation. Just in terms of time, it seems I was unprepared to teach in a formal educational setting.
But then I asked myself how much influence could I have within a certain amount of time?
Since one of my gifts is teaching, I compared the two opportunities:
Teaching once a week for 45 minutes over 50 Sundays a year equals 37.5 hours per year
Teaching five times a week for 45 minutes over 180 days a year equals 135 hours per year
By almost a 4 to 1 margin, teaching in a school won out. The most influence I might have over time made my decision to teach an easy one for me.
Every leader’s situation is different.
All leaders must ask themselves the question, “What is the best use of my time?” Scripture is full of principles for leaders to consider when it comes to time. 
- Christian Leaders Recognize God Controls the Results of His Work in Us over Time.
I am haunted by one question:
What if I do not see results of my efforts in this life?
I trust the Providence of God to do His work in His time with me, as Paul said,
When David had served God’s purposes in his generation, he died (Acts 13:36).
My purposes are suffused in God’s purposes. The point of my life as a Christian leader is not results; results belong to God, who uses me and my gifts as He sees fit. As the apostle tells the Corinthians,
What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to teach. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building (1 Corinthians 3:5-9).
God controls results in time, which means what the Psalmist said,
My times are in His hands (31:15).
Words like “providence” – God personally plans and oversees all things – are established from the biblical record. In leadership we should not be controlled by a Google calendar but God’s clock. Paul’s desire to preach in Asia but
The Spirit of Jesus would not allow them (Acts 16:7)
A vision was given to Paul to go to Macedonia, the next appointment in God’s plan (Acts 16:8-11). We may desire to see others “face to face” but may be “hindered by Satan” (1 Thess 2:17-18); a situation totally outside our ability to observe. “Hindering” may influence our plans unbeknown to us, directly impacting our intention as good as the plan may be (Romans 1:13).
Reading Paul’s plans to visit Rome from Romans 15 we know two things for sure: (1) Paul did not get to Rome the way he thought he would and (2) Paul never reached Spain, his ultimate destination.
I have so often been hindered from coming to you. But now, since I no longer have any room for work in these regions, and since I have longed for many years to come to you, I hope to see you in passing as I go to Spain, and to be helped on my journey there by you, once I have enjoyed your company for a while. At present, however, I am going to Jerusalem bringing aid to the saints (15:22-25).
We learn from Acts 27 that Paul’s trip to Rome did not go as planned. So, what we consider to be interruptions in our schedule, for instance, are God-given. God controls the results of His purposes in us through time, times we may not fully understand. Five questions make us consider God’s results in time:
- How do I talk about “results” of “my” leadership?
- What is my attitude knowing “results” of “my” work may not be seen in this life?
- How do I talk about words like “providence” to others when I discuss my leadership?
- How should I think about “planning” if I know God may change my plans?
- Why is it important to understand that supernatural “hindering” may displace my plans?
2. Christian Leaders Remember our Time in Life is Short.
We do not know the time God has allotted to us. Ecclesiastes is clear:
Man does not know his time (9:12)
Human time must be measured against eternal time. Because a lifetime is short, a long view of time should compel our actions. The reason for Paul’s exclamation “today is the day of salvation” (2 Cor 6:2) is that no one has the guarantee of life tomorrow. The parable of the rich man in Luke 12 is clear. Speaking to himself, the foolish rich man said,
And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ (12:19)
The problem was that the man assumed “many years.” Instead, God says,
Fool! This night your soul is required of you (12:20)
Leaders should be wary not to suggest to young people “You have your whole life ahead of you!” Such a statement, while generous, does not consider the potential brevity of a life. 
On the other hand, the evangelist preaches the gospel and friends share the message of the cross with friends because no one knows when someone may pass into eternity. Even our financial and economic plans are judged by James, who tells us
Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil (4:13-16).
Since our time on earth is short, leaders should focus on the long view “of declaring God’s mighty works to the next generation” (Ps 71:14-18)
that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children, so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments (Ps 78:6-7).
Human time must be layered into God’s time. Here are five questions to consider:
- How am I investing in the lives of young people who may live on after I am gone?
- How often do I use the phrase “If the Lord wills” in my planning and conversation?
- Before any activity, including sleep, do I have my affairs in order in case the Lord takes my life?
- Do I remind people, including myself, that life is short?
- Do I weigh my statements about time by biblical standards?
3. Christian Leaders Realize How We Use Our Time is Our Responsibility. It is said that an NFL quarterback has a clock in his head, knowing when he should deliver the ball before being sacked. In the same way, the wise person understands life’s brevity and lives accordingly. Proverbs 27:1 is clear,
Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.
The Psalmist admonishes us, that we should
Teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom (90:12).
Psalm 90:9-12 reminds everyone that time is short. In light of the truth, people should calculate, take stock of, or “number their days.” Every tick of the clock brings us one second closer to death. Far from morbid, the statement forbids nonchalance in life.
Why should I be taught to keep track of my days in this life?
O Lord, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am! (Psalm 39:4).
So, what should we do, knowing we do not control time and my time on earth is short? Paul admonishes that we should be
making the best use of the time, because the days are evil (Ephesians 5:16).
The lead phrase is best translated as “redeem the time.” The idea is that we literally buy back time, making the most of every opportunity. Our time is made purposeful within His time. In leadership we make the most of our time understanding that our life and death are directed by God. And so we say with Paul “for me to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Phil 1:21). The apostle continues the thought in Galatians 2:20:
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
So, I ask myself, “Where is my greatest influence as I live for Christ?” and “How can I make proper use of the time I have been given for His service?” Take the apostle Paul, for instance. God used Paul’s cultural, linguistic, religious, and national status to accomplish Divine directions. He could minister to the Jews because of his Hebrew background (Phil 3:1-6). He could minister to Gentiles because of his birthplace (Acts 21:39). He was a Roman citizen which gave him an international passport (Acts 22:3). Paul could speak multiple languages (Acts 21:37-22.2). Paul was an academic (Acts 17:16-21; 19:8-10). The apostle’s upbringing set the framework for his life under God’s Providence.
I won’t lie. Moving to Indianapolis was the worst “career” decision of my life, humanly speaking. Some people have done bad things to me personally and my “professional” goals throughout my time in the city, humanly speaking. So, in my own way I have been “hindered.” It has been a hard road overcoming multiple obstacles. But I have to say knowing these biblical principles has helped me as the Lord has moved me in directions I did not foresee. As a leader, I ask myself these questions:
- What are my present times and circumstances?
- What are the gifts and opportunities I have been given?
- Who do I know in The Church who will help me?
- Am I content to plan while at the same time knowing my plans may be changed?
- Why is it important for me to use the phrase “humanly speaking” when discussing my plans?
Conclusion
The following ideas had an influence on my life. They may not be the same for you.
Time was my focus when I thought about the people I would teach. In a pastoral role I would principally interact with adults. In a teaching role, I would teach teenagers. Time of life mattered in my decision. I operated based on the anonymous mantra
It is better to build children than repair adults.
The most formative time in life is youth. Ideas which begin to root in the early years will bear fruit in later years. Time was my focus when I thought about the people I would teach. 
Longevity was another time issue. How much influence would one have over the longest period of time? How would ideas germinate and grow throughout one’s life? More importantly, if I teach younger people, they will most probably outlive me. Would it be better to spend time with people whose influence will impact more time than my own?
For me, the answer was obvious. Longevity over time was crucial in making my decision to teach.
After 30 years of teaching junior high through doctoral students I am still asking myself the same question: what is the best use of my time?
The amount of time, influence over time, and longevity throughout time mattered most in my life’s decision.
For me, impressing young minds with true Truth is where I wanted to spend my time.
For you, it may be something different.
But whatever we do, we do it through time.
There are only two questions left for each of us to answer:
- How will I spend the time given to me in this life?
- How will I prepare for time after this life?
In my next leadership article, I will continue to develop biblical principles. But in the meantime, consider more insights from the Bible on leadership I have written. Keep reading with my articles from MarkEckel.com
The Bible on Leadership: 3 Principles about Time from Genesis 2
The Bible on Leadership: 7 Verses about the Work and Requirements of Leadership
How I Order My Life as a Leader, Writing Out My 5 Gifts
You can order my book I Just Need Time to Think and read the section entitled “Retreat” for an in-depth analysis of some of the ideas found here on work, rest, and sabbath.
Personally seeking truth wherever it’s found, Mark Eckel reminds himself daily of the ancient line “What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.” (James 4:14).
Mark has been teaching the next generation over four decades.