I was once involved in the organizing of a football
tournament with a group of dear Christians. We were generally on top of things
and seemingly on the same page as to what needed to be done. The day before the
event we had our last meeting just to go over a few things and tie up loose
ends. Every item on the to do list was
checked and as we were concluding I reminded everyone to come 30 minutes before
the tournament started, to set up so that we do not delay with registration and
the formalities. “You are not taking the time on the flier literally are you?”
was the question a dear friend asked me.
“No one is coming that early!” was his second statement. We got engaged
in a heated debate as to whether we should stick to the time we set and
disqualify any team that comes late as we had warned we would on the flier. He
then left me speechless (well not quite) when he smiled and asked me if I was
serious, to which I replied in the affirmative then he said and I quote “ you
will live a very frustrated life in Zambia with such principles”.
Unfortunately
that is the sad reality! Stewardship of time is one area we have failed as
Zambians and to a large extent Africans. People do not only come late to
programs and appointments but they do so casually! The worst part is that
whoever makes an issue of time is looked upon with scorn, it’s like you have
fallen from planet Jupiter. I dread public functions like weddings, because you
are almost guaranteed of wasting time. In my entire life I have only been to
two weddings were time was kept. You can imagine how frustrating my life is (I
couldn't resist)? Sadly even church meetings and programs are like that in some
cases. They start late and end late!!!! There are meetings that have a starting
time and no ending time stated. It is
the same with appointments, you agree to meet a specific time and someone comes
thirty minutes late and they are totally unmoved. How can you progress and
develop with such kind of attitude?
Now that I have vented and expressed my frustrations
it is important at this point to ask what is wrong with African time. Does the
bible give us any instructions and principles to apply with regard to time?
There are actually several passages that teach us at least four principles
about the use of time. The overarching theme concerning time is that whatever
we do now affects eternity. How you use your time counts forever is a principle
Moses brings out quite clearly in Psalm 90 as he shows that God is from
everlasting to everlasting, while man is frail and short lived. And the
everlasting God carries out judgment in His wrath. And Moses rightly prays in
verse 12, “teach us to number our days that we present to you a heart of
wisdom” In other words time is not African time is God’s. He created it and
gave to us. We shouldn't make it African, European or any other people group.
The preciousness of time cannot be over emphasized.
And as with all precious things it should be treated with utmost care. Time is
precious because it is short Job 14:1 says, “man who is born of a woman is
short lived and full of turmoil” in other words time is in short supply and on high
demand. We have so little time to fulfill our God given purpose on earth and we
cannot afford to waste any of it doing nothing in the name of African time. Especially
that time lost can never be recovered.
The other principle the bible teaches us is that time
is uncertain. James 4:13-18 says, “Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we
will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a
profit" yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life?
For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes Instead you
ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that."
As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.” We are not
granted of tomorrow we should do all we can while we have the time and James
summarizes the thought by saying to him who knows to do good and does not do it
to him it is sin.
The other problem with African time is that it has no
regard for other people. It is quite self-centered. Wasting people’s time is
esteeming yourself better than others; therefore you feel they can wait for you,
since they do not have anything important to do with their time. It is lack of
consideration and respect for other people. Especially that we rarely have
genuine reasons for being late.
It is important to remember that we are Christians who
also happen to be Africans and not Africans who happen to be Christians.
African time is sin! We cannot continue living such a sinful attitude under the
disguise of being African. Let your yes
be yes and your no be no. That is God’s time!
Interesting!
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