Does Time Have Value? The Value of Time

Time and money versus time and ethics?

There is no question that time has value. How much value time has and how that value is calculated or measured, depends a lot on one's personal perception. Time is not considered alone with respect to its actual value, as it is perceived in terms of something else, like either money or ethics.

One might ask, "Which is of more value?" which brings us to a question of time and money versus time and ethics.

In our world of today, time is perceived by many, as being an expendable commodity, like money. Because of that increasingly popular perception, the issue of time and ethics is not taken seriously enough. As money is frequently wasted by many people, so is time wasted, particularly when it is not considered to be of any value by members of the human race.

Time has value.

Time is to be valued.

Time has been given to us freely, as a gift from God and as such, it should be something that is perceived in terms of ethics also, rather than just in terms of dollars and cents.

One might suggest that older people tend to place more value on time and ethics, than younger people do. As human beings age, they become increasingly concerned about the kind of ethical legacy, that they are going to leave for the next generation. They know that their days are numbered. The younger generation is more likely to focus on money, its acquisition and what one can do with it. That is not always the case. 

Sometimes, the younger generation demonstrates a more realistic and responsible attitude, than the older generation.

With respect to leaving a legacy, money may or may not be a part of the picture. When money is the sole consideration in a potential legacy, there can be a lot of cruelty. Families can turn violent, destroying each other; friends can erase friendships, just as easily as not. Businesses can be destroyed.

True ethics, perceived from a Christian perspective, has to do with the love of God and one another.

A word of caution! Beware of pseudo-ethics or false ethics. Remember that pseudo-ethics are not Christian ethics based upon love. Instead, they appear as a form of human ethics. This kind of false ethics can do damage, while wearing the mask of something that is supposedly accomplishing that which is deemed to be good.

When the love of money becomes the ultimate criterion in relation to time, ethics can quickly be discarded by humankind. Where there are no true ethical considerations included in a scenario, human beings suffer in the long run, even if the suffering is not immediately evident.

Power based on the love of money without any true ethics, can lead to tragic consequences. It becomes a ruthless kind of power, where people are often injured or killed for the sake of dollars and cents.

We are all familiar with time calculations based upon money. That is a picture that everyone confronts at some time, in almost every work environment. Wages for workers are calculated in terms of time and money.

True Christian ethics and false or pseudo-ethics, may or may not be a part of a work scenario.

Seldom do we see a job situation, where only time and ethics are considered. The odd exception might be that of a ministry of some kind, where the people who are working receive remuneration that is other than money.

Weighing time in terms of money and ethics is a risky business at best, but we all do it, at some time in our lives, whether we realize it or not. Looking at the value of time more seriously, with these two criteria in mind, could be of tremendous benefit to us all.

There is also the integrity factor to consider when one looks seriously at the value of time. Integrity is central to true Christian ethics. Little do most people realize how important integrity is, with regards to their time.

The reality is this. No one knows how much actual time, ie. days, weeks or months, he or she has to live on this earth, with the exception of someone who has been diagnosed with some kind of an illness. Even then, the best guess with respect to how long that person will live is still only an estimate.

Money is always going to come and go. Recession is a reality in our world even today, in spite of the financial expertise that exists. The economy rises and it falls, just as quickly.

It is often difficult to separate the value of time from money and ethics. Frequently there is a fine line between the two. Many times, a judgment call is needed. It is not as if there is some individual package that purports time as only in relationship to money or time as only in relationship to ethics. Both require the use of integrity as a guideline.

Can a person live without money?

Can a person live without ethics?

Can a business fly without money?

Can a business fly without ethics?

Common sense tells us that the best people and businesses in the entire world, will have both money and true ethics with integrity, as the uniting factor, ie. the fine line between the two realms.

Try weighing the value of time against eternity.

In this kind of a scenario, the value of time takes on a new perspective with respect to both money and ethics. In a world of only money, without ethics or integrity, is there going to be an eternity? Probably not.

On the other hand, in a world of true ethics and integrity, eternity allows more than sufficient time. How about forever and a day. Time in eternity or in relation to eternity, is something that we cannot know until such a time as we are a part of that scenario.

Money may or may not be present in eternity. True ethics will be, as they are based on love. Maybe the streets in eternity are paved with gold because money no longer has value in that time frame? We can speculate on time or eternity forever, but what is more important is the here and now and what we do with it in terms of time and money, as well as with respect to time and ethics.

Yes, time has value. You can count on that.