Investors scour the earth for assets to buy or trade. Their objective is to accumulate wealth so as to attain financial security, or gain status or power. In fact, the investment community has created all kinds of assets like cryptocurrencies and non-fungible tokens although some traditional asset classes like real property and equities still hold sway with many.
So, what then is the most valuable asset in the world?
I have an answer. This asset has the following characteristics:
- It is constantly declining in value.
- It is highly volatile and can become worthless in an instant.
- It has an unknown expiry date.
- It cannot be seen but must be experienced.
- Without this asset, life will come to an end.
- It cannot be bought or traded.
This asset is time! God has given each of us a specific amount of time on this earth to experience life.
How then should we use the time that God has given us? Some verses come to mind.
Psalm 90:12 says, “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”
And Ephesians 5:15-16 says, “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.”
As God’s children, we are to use our time to live for the Lord, and obey and serve him. With this etched in our mind, this desire will percolate down to all areas of our life, be it family, church, work, relationships … . This desire will bring forth peace in our hearts even in the midst of trouble and travail. And we should use our talents and resources during our lifetime for God’s glory!
In Matthew 25:14-30, a master, before going on a journey, entrusted a different number of bags of gold to each of his three servants based on their ability. Two of the servants used the gold to generate returns. When the master came back, he was pleased and rewarded them accordingly. However, the third servant merely hid the gold and wasted the time given to him. The master was displeased and took the gold from him and gave it to one of the other servants. The master then punished the worthless servant.
Brothers and sisters, let us use the time and resources entrusted to us to serve our Lord!