Getting a "Round Tuit!"

Keith Kiper
Media Pastor
Boonville Wesleyan Church

I recently bought an old book in a consignment shop written by James Samuel Knox. I still like books, especially old ones. Guess I haven't quite caught the I-pad fever. The title of the book is Personal Efficiency. I believe this was written as a companion to a book on salesmanship. Although some passages are humorous, because they are dated, specifically to the life and times of 1920. I like what Mr. Knox says in his chapter on time capital.

Everyone has a definite income of twenty four hours a day. This income is constant and is the same for rich and poor alike. It can neither be increased or diminished. Out of this income must come certain fixed charges. The use of time, the richest legacy bequeathed to man, determines whether an individual shall merely exist or by careful study...and increase his usefulness.

Wise words, especially for 2012! He evens mentions John Wesley, who rose at 4:00AM in order to have time for prayer and the deeds of the day. Was it old Ben Franklin who said,"Time is money?"

Either extreme has its consequences. Busying oneself too much and then forgetting appointments or meetings isn't much better than idle time simply wasted. I admit in this stressful world, that can become easy to do, especially for those of us in ministry. Facebook, computer games, the list goes on. Recent surveys suggest 8-18 year-olds devote an average of 7 hours and 38 minutes to using entertainment media in a typical day. The average church gets these kids for only 1.2 percent of the week.

Of course, those who know me well, also know that I must close with a John Wesley quote,"You have nothing to do but save souls. Therefore spend and be spent in this work."