Psalm 39:4
4 O Lord, make me know my end
and what is the measure of my days;
let me know how fleeting I am!
Ben Franklin, along with several of the other founding fathers, has always been an intriguing character to me. Most people know him as the “guy who flew a key on a kite that got struck by lightning.” Sure that was an experiment he did, but in reality, Franklin was so much more than that. He was certainly a successful scientist, but he was also an accomplished printer, musician, author, diplomat, and additionally, he helped found a country on the side.
One of my favorite Ben Franklin stories comes from his work in the book and newspaper industry. The story goes like this –
“What price the price of that book?” at length asked a man who had been dawdling for an hour in the front store of Benjamin Franklin’s newspaper establishment. “One dollar,” replied the clerk. “One dollar,” echoed the lounger; “can’t you take less than that?” “One dollar is the price,” was the answer.
The would-be purchaser looked over the books on sale a while longer, and then inquired: “Is Mr. Franklin in?” “Yes,” said the clerk, “he is very busy in the press-room.” “Well, I want to see him,” persisted the man. The proprietor was called, and the stranger asked: “What is the lowest, Mr. Franklin, that you can take for that book?” “One dollar and a quarter,” was the prompt rejoinder. “One dollar and a quarter! Why, your clerk asked me only a dollar just now.” “True,” said Franklin,” and I could have better afforded to take a dollar than to leave my work.”
The man seemed surprised; but, wishing to end a parley of his own seeking, he demanded: “Well, come now, tell me your lowest price for this book.” “One dollar and a half,” replied Franklin. “A dollar and a half! Why, you offered it yourself for a dollar and a quarter.” “Yes,” said Franklin coolly, “and I could better have taken that price then than a dollar and a half now.”
– From Pushing to the Front, 1911
I like this story because it underscores a vital point – time is precious.
Time is precious. It’s essential. It’s valuable. And we only have a finite amount of it here on this earth. Our time on this earth is limited – David asked the Lord to help him understand the measure of his days, to realize just how fleeting his life is. The reality is that we’re sojourners in a foreign land, we’re just passing through – Paul himself makes it clear that “our citizenship is in heaven (Phil. 3:20).”
To sum it up – we have limited time and an undeniable call.
We’ve been sent as ambassadors of God on a mission to make disciples, both close by and far away. Both across the street and across the sea. Both in our families and in our communities.
So our time is valuable. We have only a fleeting amount it. Therefore, we must be intentional with our time. We don’t have time to waste.
