Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - Jan/78

Contributor - Peter J. Yff

Title - Teach Us To Count

Topic - Meditation

"So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom." Psalm 90: 12

Nothing makes us more mindful of the swift passage of time than does the passing of an old year and the coming of a new one, unless it be the occasion of one's birthday. Life is a very uncertain commodity. Time slips by, and we find that we have not accomplished nearly what we should have, or wanted to. Wisdom certainly concerns the wise use of time.

Moses, the great prophet and leader of God's chosen people in the Old Testament, was a man who used time well. His life span is readily divided into the stages of growing up, of coming to maturity in the desert, of active service in leading God's people through the desert to the very border of the promised land. Moses was a man of prayer, a man who talked with God as did no other. So close was Moses to God that his face shone, and disturbed people. We need something more of that in our lives. We need to develop the practical, and devout wisdom of this Old Testament leader.

The verse I have singled out is a prayer request. As Moses prayed for wisdom to properly measure time, so should we. We ask for insight so that we may recognize the value of time. Some folk only mark time, others use it. The prayer is a request of God that he teach us to invest time, and make it fruitful. Moreover, we ask that God teach us, so that we do not waste time in vain regret or idle wishing. We pray, if you will, that we may be realists in our view of time, yet realists with a vision of faith and purpose.

Perhaps we should also pray that we be given sufficient wisdom not to start so many things at once that we never finish anything. How common this failing is ! You have all heard of the man who has many books in his library, of which he has only read the first chapter. You have all heard of people like the man who has an unfinished area in his basement recreation room, and another unfinished place in the bedroom being remodeled upstairs. Instead of finishing one or the other he starts yet another project - extending the length of his garage.

Also of great importance is the part of the petition which asks for a heart of wisdom. Not for just intellectual, or mental power, but "heart power". The use of mind alone results in coldness, and even cruelty. Following one's "heart" alone results in a course easily swayed, in instability. Combining heart and mind harnesses and links intellect and compassion. The psalmist wants to get at the root of it all: love for God in his heart, a motivation to serve him with heart and mind. Scripture is very clear about the nature of wisdom. It is not the same thing as education, although it certainly uses education and encourages increased knowledge. Wisdom is the ability to use and evaluate what one has learned. The heart of wisdom is love for God from within, so that life is controlled by it, and directed to the service of God and man.

Moses' great psalm - poem is realistic. It sees life as filled with difficulty, with regret, with "what might have been's". Yet there is hope, not in man, but in God who strengthens, gives insight, gives new courage. God forgives and restores, and provides grace to go on again. In short, God gives wisdom for the living of these - or any - days.

Make this prayer of Moses your own for the year 1978, and when you do, you will use, enjoy, and benefit in all the occurrences, joys, sorrows, and struggles that will come to you in the year. When you ask God to so establish your work, he will indeed hear, and answer, your prayer.

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