What is Kairos Time?
I've only just a minute,
Only sixty seconds in it.
Forced upon me, can't refuse it,
Didn't seek it, didn't choose it,
But it's up to me to use it.
I must suffer if I lose it,
Give an account if I abuse it
Just a tiny little minute,
But eternity is in it.
God's Minute
- Dr. Benjamin E. Mays
I learned that poem almost 25 years ago as a freshman at Morehouse College. It was impressed upon me the importance of time, and how we are gifted with it.
Our time really does count. More importantly, understanding God’s time is key. God’s time is often referred to as “Kairos time.” Greek in its origin, “Kairos time” reminds us that our lives are filled with God moments. This time is all about the movement of God in our lives. These God moments are often characterized as coincidence or serendipity. Yet, if we would listen to the Spirit, we would discover that these moments are acts of divinity.
Perhaps Ecclesiastes 3 is the most famous passage of Scripture that addresses time. In the New International Version (NIV), it reads:
1 There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
2 a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
Kairos time is designed to help us fulfill our God given purpose in life!
Unlike Kairos time, chronos time can be viewed as ordinary time. It is chronological or sequential time. Chronos time is the clock passing from one minute to the next. We use birthdays, anniversaries and other significant dates to mark chronos time. Our calendars and watches are tools we employ to mark chronos time.
While chronos time is important and a gift, we should seek to live in Kairos time.
So, next time you hear the question, “What time is it?” Consider these questions as you determine your answer.
Is God speaking to you about a particular issue?
Is God speaking to you about a particular time/season in your life?
Is God speaking to you about a particular issue in the life of the faith community?
Is God speaking to you about a particular time/season in the life of the faith community?
Time is a precious. Time is a treasure. Time must be used wisely. What difference will your time make?
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