Teach Us to Number Our Days

I want to exhort you on the need to learn from God how to number your days; that is the only way you can apply your heart to wisdom. Until we all learn to number our days, we are likely to act silly.

Text

[Psalm 90:9-17 KJV] “For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told. [10] The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. [11] Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath. [12] So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

[13] Return, O Lord, how long? and let it repent thee concerning thy servants. [14] O satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. [15] Make us glad according to the days wherein thou hast afflicted us, and the years wherein we have seen evil. [16] Let thy work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their children. [17] And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it”.

Discussion

The Bible teaches that biblical life expectancy is 70 years and most strong people live up to 80 years, yet their days pass as a dream in the night and as smoke. We spend our days as a tale that is being told. You will not be taken by surprise, when you number your days aright.

Every man’s life is divided into four chunks: 25 years – 25 years – 20 years – Miscellaneous. We must spend the first 25 to learn and train, then the next 25 to practice, the next 20 to consult and mentor, and spend the rest of our time gracing occasions.

There is the need to apply your heart to wisdom. You must know what matters most at which stage. The threefold wisdom to live by is to understand that;

1. You are created for a purpose and God loves you just as you are;

You are fearfully and wonderfully made to rule in the stead of God.

Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. [Jeremiah 1:5 KJV]

I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee. [Psalms 139:14‭-‬18 KJV]

2. You must grow in grace, in stature, in wisdom and be subject to your parents;

And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man. [Luke 2:51‭-‬52 KJV]