"So be careful how you live, not as fools but as those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity for doing good in these evil days." (Ephesians 5:15, 16 The Living Translation)

Time is an elusive thing. It slips away from us so easily, leaving us wondering if we have indeed used our time wisely. We are greatly influenced by the clock, so we must consider the role that time plays in parenting our teens.

God calls us to be disciplined in the use of our time. We have much difficulty managing our time and often feel that there aren't enough hours in the day to accomplish everything that needs to be done. We feel pressure, because in this fast-paced society we have so much to do. But if we want to be Christ-like, if we want to finish the work God has called us to as parents, we need to set priorities and to be disciplined in our use of time because the way we use our time is the heart of a disciplined spiritual life.

In John 17:4 Jesus says that he finished the work that God gave Him to do. From this verse it is apparent that Jesus lived His life in a disciplined manner, completing his assignment from God.

There a few things we need to realize about time. To begin with, time is short. If we never died, time wouldn't seem so precious. No matter our age, we are only on earth a short time in comparison with eternity. And the way we use our time has eternal significance. The wise use of time prepares us for eternity. In this life we must take the time to prepare for eternity because once you've crossed over that line, there will be no second chances.

Time is not only short, it is passing. Actually, it is fleeting. If we don't discipline ourselves in the use of our time for building life-long relationships with our kids, training them up in the ways of the Lord, and influencing the way they live in the here-and-now, we will never get around to it. And the time that we have is uncertain. We never know how much time God has given us to live on this earth or how quickly it will pass. That's why Proverbs 27:1 gives us wise counsel when it warns us not to boast about our plans for the future, because we never know what the future holds. James 4:14 tells us that our life is but a "vapor" that vanishes as quickly as it came.