When we talk about currency, you’re probably thinking of the Dollar, the Euro, the Yen, maybe Bitcoin—but those aren’t our most valuable currency. Our most valuable currency is time. Once we spend it, we can never get it back.
Each of us has the same daily currency: 1,440 minutes. For some, that’s just a number. For others, it represents our very life. Unlike financial currency, when time is gone, it’s gone for good. We all trade our time for something. So, what are you trading yours for?
I see so many people wasting their lives away—I used to be one of them. I spent 19 years tangled in addictions, years I could have used to do something meaningful. But in a way, I’m thankful I didn’t, because it led me to meet Sandy. If things had been different, we wouldn’t have met, and our kids, Lil Chris and Katelynn, wouldn’t be here. My family is everything to me!
So, what are you doing with your time? Are you allowing people to steal your time who don’t deserve it? I’m not saying to cut everyone out of your life, but there comes a point when you have to say no to people who are dragging you down. Life’s too short for that.
How often do you waste time chasing someone’s love when there are people who will love you just as you are? Don’t pour your time into people who don’t value you. If you’re single, stop trying to change into someone you’re not. Find someone who sees you as perfect just the way you are. And if you’re married, then it’s time to work things out together.
Are you wasting your life away scrolling or sitting in front of the TV? These things can be destructive. Don’t get me wrong—there’s nothing wrong with relaxing in front of the TV or checking in on social media. I do it, too. But you have to keep it in check, or you’ll wake up one day wondering where the years went.
Take an honest look at your life. Ask yourself how much time you’re really wasting. If you can find a way to reclaim even 2-3 hours a day, you’ll see a huge change.
Imagine what you could do with an extra 15 hours a week. Spend those hours with your family—that time is priceless. Go back to school to find your passion. Take an online course. Spend more time in the Bible or exploring books that interest you. Take up a hobby that brings you joy and purpose.
What do you want to do with the rest of your life? None of us know when God will call us home, so live each day like it could be your last. That way, when the time comes, you’ll have no regrets.
So many people on their deathbeds don’t wish they’d worked more; they wish they’d spent more time with loved ones. Work is important—it provides stability and fulfillment. But if your career becomes your primary focus, you’re missing out on what matters most.
It’s natural for life to get a little unbalanced sometimes. But do everything in your power to keep balance so your family stays a priority. When life tips out of balance, family is often the first thing to suffer. That shouldn’t be the case.
Our walk with God is equally important. Drawing closer to God changes us; we become better in every area of life as we grow toward Him.
But keep it in balance. Sometimes people get so caught up in church that they lose focus on their family. I love my church, and we go regularly, but church isn’t God. When church, or anything outside of God, becomes a “god” to you, your family will suffer.
What will you do tomorrow to change things? What will you do today? What do you truly value, and are you focusing on that? If not, it’s time to realign so your time—the most precious currency you have—is spent wisely, not wasted.
Living a God-Inspired Life,
Chris Benton