How do you waste the most time every day?
“Creativity is intelligence having fun.”
Albert Einstein
What IS wasting time?
The Definition of waste is:
/wāst/
verb
- 1. use or expend carelessly, extravagantly, or to no purpose.
I definitely HAVE wasted time. I’ve been a video game addict most of my life…. And I have spent numerous hours to no purpose. I probably do it now and again these days….
That being said… I’m not sure, as a general rule I waste much time, in terms of “towards no purpose anymore”..
I definitely have fun… and in that sense I definitely feed into the careless and extravagant….
Writing on here is one of the ways I do that. Playing with my kids is (in a sense) one of the ways I do that.
I guess my point is that I think we need a redefinition of “purpose”
If purpose automatically equates to productivity (as the use of the phrase “waste of time” implies… then we have a problem.)
What does purpose mean?
pur·pose
/ˈpərpəs/
noun
- the reason for which something is done or created or for which something exists.
So… what is the purpose of human beings? What is the purpose of the time we have?
What is a human anyway?
Well the answer to this last question is much too long an answer to do it justice here… Check out: The Father’s Resemblance: Our Raison d’etre for a more detailed answer.
Whether you know it or not… or believe it or not…. According to the book of Genesis: Your reason for being is to be an image of God. To be like Him. In Latin the concept is called: Imago Dei.
The Father’s Resemblance: Our Raison d’etre
In short we are created to look and act like God. This takes many forms: Creativity, artistry, intelligence, and more.
At its core our purpose includes relationship… since God by His very nature IS a relationship of three distinct persons in the same being: See The Interpersonally Driven Dad.
It also includes REST. God intentionally builds rest into how humanity operates… (sleep anyone?)
He takes this just as seriously as he takes anything else… I could go all sorts of ways here… For instance: I could cite the commandment to rest on Sabbath… or on the other appointed festivals…
However, what I would like to highlight is the person of Jesus… who claims to be one with His Father (both of whom are God with the Holy Spirit)…
Jesus constantly goes away to pray. Which includes rest to those of us who love him.1
He sleeps through storms (on small boats)and seems utterly baffled that his friends would wake him.2
Calls his friends/disciples to come away and rest with him.3
Gets really excited about celebrating the resting feasts with his friends. 4
He is literally called “Rest” by one of his disciples. 5
He commends people for spending time with him when they “could” be doing something else.
Specifically a woman named Mary or Miriam sits at his feet
“She had a sister called Miriam, who was seated at the Master’s feet, listening to His teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving; so she approached Yeshua and said, “Master, doesn’t it concern you that my sister has left me to serve alone? Then tell her to help me!” But answering her, the Lord said, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and bothered about many things; but only one thing is necessary. For Miriam has chosen the good part, which will not be taken away from her.””
Luke 10:39-42 TLV
Jesus says… only one thing is necessary…. What is that? Apparently…Relationship. Following him… etc.
Jesus literally says this:
“Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Matthew 11:28 TLV
So my point is… if I’m sitting on the couch… spending time with my wife… writing on a blog about my favorite person Jesus… while she watches Gilmore Girls because she literally doesn’t have energy to do anything else…..
Is that really wasted time?
Footnotes
1. Luke 5:16
2. Mark 4:39-40
3. Mark 6:31
4. Luke 22:15
5. Hebrews 4:9


Leave a comment