What Counts? Who's Counting?

Scripture: Judges 4:1-7 and Psalm 123  • Zephaniah 1:7, 12-18 and Psalm 90:1-8, (9-11), 12  
1 Thessalonians 5:1-11  • Matthew 25:14-30


This week we have scripture and lessons concerning time and how we should meaningfully use that time. The Greek language has two words for time, Καιρός (kairos) and Χρόνος (chronos). In rhetoric, Καιρός means the passing instant when an opening appears which must be driven through with force if success is to be achieved. In Christian theology, Καιρός means "the appointed time in the purpose of God", the time when God acts. Καιρός is timeless, eternal, whereas Χρόνος is "chronological," and is pictured in Greek mythology by Cronos  who represented the destructive ravages of time which consumed all things, a concept that was definitely illustrated when the Titan king devoured the Olympian gods — the past consuming the future, the older generation suppressing the next generation.

The Psalmist says, "Teach us to count our days, that we may have a wise heart." In his first letter to the Thessalonians, Paul tells us to be alert, to have no concern about the seasons, but to prepare for the day of the Lord's coming, building up and encouraging one another, and to have faith, love and hope.

Jesus's parable of the talents tells us that the King entrusts his servants with talents, goes away for a long time, and returns to see what they have done with their talents. Talents are not what we might think. What does Jesus mean when he uses the words talents? Is God keeping score, or time? See The Rev. Charles Hoffacker's "Trust, not Fear."  The Rev. Canon Frank Logue also discusses talents, and taking risks. See his "Love is Risky Business."

What are we to do with our time? See Enuma Okoro's "Discerning the Days," in his "With the Eyes of Our Heart," Series in November 2011 edition of Sojourners.

What are we to do with our "talents"? See Steve Goodier's "All Used Up."