Numbering Our Days
Psalm 90:9–12
"For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told. The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath. So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom."
As we prepare to start a new year it is important for us to stop and take into account the brevity of life. When we think about how long we might live, we may take into consideration the lifespan of our parents and grandparents, our health, and where we live. Insurance companies invest heavily in actuarial tables giving statistical information on life expectancy, and they use these tables to establish insurance rates and premiums.
When we consider our lives from God’s viewpoint, two things become immediately clear. First, no matter how long we live there will come a day when our lives will end. It may be death or it may be the Rapture, but in either case our lives on this Earth are not going to continue forever. That places a premium on making wise use of the days we do have. The psalmist tells us that carefully numbering our days will lead us toward wisdom.
The second certainty is that we are not in control of the length of our lives—God is. The only day that we know for certain we have is today. James warns those who make their plans for the future without considering God. “Ye know not what shall be on the morrow” (James 4:14). Realizing that you may only have this one day, use it wisely for God.
Growth Principle:
Because the future is unknown, it is important that we make the very most of each day as it comes.