Life Is Too Short

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As people get older, they often remark about "how time flies". Time is the same for young and old, but as we get older, we tend to become conscious of the swift passage of our life. Job said, "My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle..." (Job 7:6). The Psalmist said, "For he remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again" (Psalms 78:39). James wrote that life is "...even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time and then vanisheth away" (James 4:14).

We mention this to emphasize that life is too short for us to deliberately pass by the opportunities for joy and enrichment that come our way. It is not so much that others deprive us of happiness, but that we deprive ourselves. It is tragic that some miss so many of the good things of this world simply because they will not allow themselves the pleasure.

Life is too short to neglect friendships. 

No one has too many friends and no friendship is of negligible value. Probably every day, there are opportunities for making and strengthening relationships with others. A stranger today could be a brother tomorrow.

Life is too short to neglect fellowship with Christian friends. 

The public and private occasions when we can be together to share interests, to share laughter, and to show affection are blessings from God. We realize that even the most gregarious persons need some time to be alone. We also realize the opportunities will soon be gone. Faces we remember from past times are not seen anymore. Their cherished voices and pleasant laughter are absent now. We can deprive ourselves of so much by refusing to be a part of it.

Life is too short to entertain bad attitudes.

Sometimes it happens that someone will get upset or cross about something and let a sore fester within them for months and even years. Their chief satisfaction is the satisfaction of being constantly miserable. This does, of course, affect and hurt others, but the worst injury is to themselves. Time is too short and life too precious to be ruined by unchristian attitudes.

Life is too short to refuse the opportunities to good for others.

The building block of a meaningful life are kind words and helpful deeds. Most people think of this after it is too late. Perhaps the one time many of us think Jesus may have been mistaken was when He said, "...It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35). Our own selfishness can rob us of great blessings.

Life is too short to neglect opportunities for spiritual enrichment.

One who feels he can live a consecrated life without much help simply does not understand the Christian life. Bible classes, special services, literature, are not intended as activities just for people with nothing to do. It is a sad irony that so often those who need help are the ones who deny themselves such opportunities.

Life is too short to fail to speak to others about the Savior.

We are a dying race and very soon our friends and ourselves will be gone. Gone to where depends totally upon our relationship to Christ. This life affords no greater privilege than the privilege of helping another to be saved. But worldly pride, selfishness, indifference, and lack of preparation are keeping us from even trying. Too soon we will watch our neighbors perish. Too soon we will "go, and empty handed".

"So teach us to number our days,
that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom"

(Psalms 90:12).

– David Pharr, October 2001 –