Decisions about use of time are the most important that a Christian has to make; this is no mere plan for disposition of our own small material possessions as is one's monetary budget, this is the plan for the basic resource of life itself.  The first and most vital decision is in the choice of main activity in life, for most of us – what paid job are we going to do?  The great majority of people spend a very large part of their waking lives in their main paid employment, and it is here that most of us can make our biggest contribution to others. It is essential to realise that a dedicated approach to our job, be it schoolmastering,. managing an engineering firm or assembling motor cars, is a fundamental aspect of total stewardship.  It is there that we can make our most important effort as stewards of God's gifts; for it is thus, for instance, that we can help to build the surplus of wealth which can, through-liquidity of money, be used to help others far beyond our own personal contact.  Similarly, the housewife contributes vitally by the devotion with which she cares for her family, so enabling them to be more effective in their jobs.

Another high priority for many is their family life.  It may be good stewardship, for those whom it suits temperamentally, to remain single in order to devote their lives wholly to a worthwhile cause; it cannot be good stewardship for those who are married to give inadequate time to their partner, and (if any) family.

God must also figure high on our priority list.  Time must be found not only for regular worship, but also for private prayer and meditation.  Frankly this is a matter of self–discipline.  No one is so busy that they cannot manage at least one hour a week for a eucharist and perhaps a quarter of an hour per day for private study or meditation.

When these three over–riding items have been allowed for and a sensible amount of time allowed for sleep, there is left disposable leisure time.  There are many possible ways in which the good steward may use this, but among the normal activities which have to be fitted in will be:–

Maintaining one's friendships:

Keeping time to help friends, neighbours and relations in crisis:

Activities in the community and parish which are useful to other people.

Just because we spend a great deal of time when talking about stewardship in discussing this last item, it is particularly important to set it in its context as we have tried to do above.

The skills demanded by this last group of activities are often quite different from those required by our main jobs; some indeed, demand little skill at all – church cleaning for instance.  They are none the less important, both because of the community and the parish's need for them, and even more because of our need to give service.  For most of us there are really opportunities to help with local parish or community activities and, in spite of the heavyweight public organisation of the welfare state, there are very many gaps the filling of which absolutely depends on voluntary spare time efforts.

Just what decisions any one person should come to in this vital field it is impossible to lay down, because our circumstances and personalities vary so widely.  .What can be said with certainty is that just as a modern executive, for the use of his personal time, has to make a conscious plan which balances his priorities, so must the Christian, if he is to use to best effect this most precious of God given resources.