How We Spend Time

This is a screen capture from a New York Times article. Moving my cursor over the different colors, I ran across ‘Religious activities,’ just below ‘Volunteering,’ with even a smaller percentage. ‘Sports,’ just below, shows larger – and take a look at the TV and movies!

A survey of Americans, a couple of years old, so if it were taken today with more people out of work, I wonder which segment would increase.

There are no surprises there, for me. Work takes up most of our time – when we can work. Travel was a bit higher than I expected throughout the day, but we are a commuter society – again, when we can work.  This graph is for ‘Everyone.’  There are seventeen other graphs for specific segments.  For example, as someone over 65, here are our days:

We do a few more morning devotions, it appears (we both know I do, since this is posted in the morning) and we basically eat two meals a day – and watch a lot of television.

I’ve  wondered if this were tailored for weekends of the ‘Religious activity’ would increase a bit, but I doubt it.  I do expect ‘Sports’ would, though.  I’m surprised that ‘Religious activity’ doesn’t increase around bedtime with closing prayers.

From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD'S name is to be praised. (Psalms 113:3 KJV)

People saying they are Christian make up a good portion of the American population.  Doesn’t appear we’re spending much time praising, does it?  Yet God’s people were given directives as how to spend part of their time:

That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children: That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments: (Psalms 78:6-7 KJV)

It is good to build a habit of praying:

It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High: To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night, (Psalms 92:1-2 KJV)

Christ provided an example for our prayer, but He gave some instructions before that example:

But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. (Matthew 6:7-8 KJV)

A better example is given later, as He faces what we who love Him never shall – separation from God the Father.  Even knowing what awaited Him following death on the cross, He asked that it not happen, but closed with what God requires from His children:

He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done. (Matthew 26:42 KJV)

Look again at the graph.  Compare the hours of your day with those who answered the survey.  Where does God’s will fit?