Make The Most Of It - Paul

Near the shore where we landed was an estate belonging to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us and treated us kindly for three days. As it happened, Publius’s father was ill with fever and dysentery. Paul went in and prayed for him, and laying his hands on him, he healed him.

Acts 28:7-8

A woodsman wished to break up the monotony of his workday, so he challenged one of his coworkers to an all-day wood-chopping contest. The challenger worked his hardest all day, stopping only for a quick bite to eat, while the other contestant took a leisurely lunch and several breaks during the day.

At the end of the day, the challenger was shocked and more than a little annoyed to see that his opponent had chopped substantially more wood than he had.

“I don’t get it,” he complained. “Every time I looked, you were taking a rest, yet you chopped more wood than I did.”

“What you didn’t notice,” the winning woodsman retorted, “was that every time I sat down to rest, I sharpened my ax.”

The apostle Paul was once in a place where he could have used some rest and relaxation. As he traveled to Rome to plead his case before Caesar, a vicious storm wrecked his ship, landing him and the other passengers on the small Mediterranean island of Malta.

Malta is a beautiful place that remains a popular tourist destination. After all the work Paul had done over many years, you might think he would just bide his time on the island, but Paul’s commitment motivated him to make the best use of every moment God gave him, including his three months in Malta waiting for a ship bound for Rome.

During those three months, Paul did the same things he had done on his missionary journeys. He healed the sick, preached the Word of God, and planted seeds of faith that would grow into a thriving church.

Whether you are working, spending time with your family and friends, or resting, time is a precious commodity. Make the best use of every moment God gives you, whatever your situation.