How to Make the Most of Your Free Time

We don’t usually think of free time as wasted time. We work hard in school, so free time is supposed to be time when we are free to do whatever we want! Or is it?

We only have 365 days a year, 24 hours a day.

If you spend four hours every day surfing the web or watching television, how many hours a year have you wasted? For those of you who aren’t math-inclined, that’s 1,460 hours a year. Of course, even if you don’t have four hours of free time every day, you might rack up some of those hours on the weekends, or during your summer break.

We need to realize how much time we have and how much of it we are throwing away.

Psalm 90:12 NCV

Teach us how short our lives really are so that we may be wise.

I’m not saying it’s wrong to have free time. Our brains need rest. But we need to remember that we don’t have a single moment to waste.

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This life is only a speck compared to eternity—and when we reach heaven, we will each have to give an account for how we spent our time on earth.

2 Corinthians 5:6-13 NCV

Our only goal is to please God whether we live here or there, because we must all stand before Christ to be judged. Each of us will receive what we should get—good or bad—for the things we did in the earthly body.

You won’t be able to take your video games, movies, or cell phones to Heaven. And I hate to burst your bubble, but I don’t think Heaven has WiFi, either. So when we use our time on earth in a way that doesn’t glorify Christ, we’re throwing our minutes away. (And I’m not talking about cell phone minutes!) On the other hand, when we use our time for good use, we’re giving our minutes to God. And when we reach Heaven, He will reward us for the time we spent for Him.  

Matthew 6:19-21 NCV

Don’t store treasures for yourselves here on earth where moths and rust will destroy them and thieves can break in and steal them. But store your treasures in heaven where they cannot be destroyed by moths or rust and where thieves cannot break in and steal them. Your heart will be where your treasure is.

Trust me, you would much rather have treasures in Heaven rather than wasted time on earth. It’s okay to spend a portion of your free time watching television or on the internet. (Depending on how much your parents allow, of course.) And everyone needs a break every once and a while—especially if you’re spending your free time with your family. However, there are many ways to spend your free time wisely.

Romans 13:11 NCV

Do this because we live in an important time. It is now time for you to wake up from your sleep, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.

Ways to Make Most of Your Free Time

1. Spend time in prayer, studying the Word, and writing in your prayer journal.

2. Memorize Scripture.

3. Read a Christian non-fiction book that can strengthen your walk with Christ. (You could also download and read any of the free PDFs More to Be offers.)

4. Look for opportunities to reach out to others.

5. Brainstorm ways you could use a hobby or gift God has given you to glorify Him.

 

I challenge you…

With your mom, calculate how many hours a week you spend watching television, on the internet, etc. From there, try to estimate how many hours of free time you had in the last year.  Brainstorm other ways to make the most of your free time in this new year.

“Only one life, ‘twill soon be past; only what’s done for Christ will last.” ~C.T. Studd

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