Falling Towers and Ticking Clocks

According to Luke 13:4, the tower of Siloam fell and killed 18 people. This tragedy was discussed by Jesus.

Luke 13:4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? 13:5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish."

Of all the directions Jesus could have gone in discussing this tragedy, Jesus goes straight to it's implications for those he was speaking to. "No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish."

The fact of the matter is that we all exist in towers that are falling. Some will fall faster than others. How is it that we remain almost completely unscathed by this though we exist in such continually precarious positions. The world displays to us over and over that life can be here one second and gone the next. The daily news is a perfect example of this, as is the obituary page in the local news paper. Death is all around us and many of us act as if we are completely oblivious.

For some of us death is around us more than others due to our occupations. That said it does not seem to matter the occupation or the exposure rate to the end of life. A great many of these who are so employed are also seemingly unconcerned about their own ticking clock which will at some point no longer tell time.

Each of us is given a limited number of days and it is of eternal importance to not waste them. This is the centiment of the ministry of Don't Waste Your Life.

What kind of steward are you being? God has given you time and resources - what are you doing with them? (I write this to myself here as well, as I want to put my time and resources to the most God-glorifying and most effective use possible.) I have been recently reminded that people are a tremendous resource. What are you doing with the people in your life? Are you encouraging them? Are you assisting them to be as God-glorifying and effective as they can be? Are you helping them on their way as they are being conformed into the image of Christ, or are you helping them be conformed into your image?

I don't want to be a poor steward and it seems that keeping an eye on the clock, which will stop at some unknown point, may assist me in this effort. I may be less likely to sit on the sidelines, or on my couch in front of the tv, if I am mindful that the clock is ticking.

Would we live differently if we knew the date and time that the tower would fall? Most of us will never know the date and the time. We may however consider the fact that the tower will fall. Considering the shortness of our days may challenge us to endeavor to be better stewards of our time and resources.

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