How often do we ask, “What time is it?” Would it not be interesting if the response were “It’s time to do good!”? That is the question District Apostle Mark Woll from Canada asks as he reflects on our annual motto.
As human beings, we are bound by time. It seems that everything is time-focused: when to get up, when to leave, when to arrive, how long to stay, how much time to dedicate to each task, event or programme …
We have expressions like too much time, too little time, and not enough time. Time is what God gives us and is our life. We choose how to allocate it according to our priorities. However, we have something special as children of God, the gift of the Holy Spirit, which gives us direction and points to the priorities in our walk of faith.
How often has the Holy Spirit awakened a thought of the good we can do for others but also ourselves? Have you ever suddenly been prompted to go and make a visit to someone who was sick or in need? Maybe placing a phone call and it was at just the right moment.
Perhaps that was your one and only opportunity to reach out and do good for them, as I experienced it! Sometimes our first instinct may be to procrastinate or find an excuse not to take the time and act on this godly inspiration. However, let us seize these opportunities to do good.
Let us remember the words in Matthew 25: 40, “And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’” What a great blessing it is when we respond to the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to do good and not push it off.
It is interesting when we put God first and seek His will. Because then there seems to be plenty of time to do everything else in our lives. Nothing is worthier of our time than to set the priority of our soul’s salvation and that of our neighbours. So, if asked, “What time is it?” we can respond with, “It’s time to do good!”