Family T.i.m.e. Series

Family T.I.M.E.

Psalm 90:1-2, 4, 10, 12

by David O. Dykes

INTRODUCTION

One of my favorite stories is about the man who worked at a factory. One of his main jobs was to blow the factory whistle at 5:00 to indicate the workday was over. He walked to work each day and passed a jewelry store where a beautiful grandfather clock was displayed in the window. Every morning, he stopped and set his pocket watch to match the time on the grandfather clock. One morning the storeowner was out front sweeping the sidewalk and the factory worker asked him how he kept such accurate time on the grandfather clock. The jeweler said, “Oh, I set it every afternoon when the factory whistle blows at 5:00.” That could lead to trouble!

People live by the clock, because time is important to all of us. Benjamin Franklin said, “Do not squander time, for it is the stuff life is made of.” As I complete this series on the Family, I want us to talk about the importance of spending time with your family.

Many frustrated people seem to always fight the clock. They stay up late, then they sleep as late as they can and then rush frantically to school or work, gulping down an unhealthy breakfast in the car, applying their make-up (or using a razor) at the stoplight, talking on their cell phone at the same time. They think they are so busy they have to rush, rush, rush everywhere. They work 60 hours a week and complain that they don’t have enough time to worship or to spend time with their family.

As I study Jesus’ life I am amazed that He never seemed to be in a hurry. Although He was doing the most important job in history (redeeming the world), and although He knew He only had a few years to do it, He never ran. He made time to consider the flowers and the birds of the air. He had time to put his hands on the little children and bless them. Time was His friend.

The Bible gives us some great insight into how time can become your friend rather than your enemy. Basically, God exists in a realm that is not bound by time or space. God doesn’t wear a Rolex or even a Timex. He doesn’t have a Day-Timer or a Palm Pilot. He is the Creator of time, and He is greater than time. So, the first step in making time your friend is to totally immerse your life in God. In Psalm 90, we read:

“Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God… (verse 4): For a thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night… (verse 10): The length of our days is seventy years - or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away… (verse 12): teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”

I’ll use the four letters in the word TIME to help us learn about the importance of family TIME.

TREASURE!

God says we should treasure time as a valuable commodity. You number your years (or at least some of you do), but God says every day is so precious, we should treasure it and number it. How valuable is an hour? Ask the businessman whose flight was delayed an hour and he missed an important business deal. How valuable is one minute? Ask the man who had the heart attack in the restaurant and an EMT happened to be sitting at the next table and CPR saved his life. How valuable is a second? Ask the person who hesitated for a second before swerving to avoid the oncoming car. How valuable is a fraction of a second? Ask the Olympic swimmer who missed qualifying by six-tenths of a second. Time really is valuable. So learn a couple of things about what this means for your family:

1. The most valuable asset to share with your family is your time

Parents, do you love your children? Give them the gift of your time. Husbands and wives, give each other the precious blessing of time. Sadly, many parents spell love “T.H.I.N.G.S” but children spell love “T.I.M.E.”

Last week I read quotes from some our members about what makes a strong family. One guy wrote: Dads–Your wife and kids want you and not your money. Good advice.

I can honestly say I can’t remember a single thing my dad every bought me when I was a kid. But I remember our fishing trips and the time my dad spent coaching my little league team. Parents: give the gift to your children that really does keep on giving–give them your time. Husbands and wives, give each other your time; it’s the perfect gift for every occasion!