The Disciplined Use Of Time
Time Management – God’s Way
Here is a FACT: Godliness is the result of a disciplined spiritual life. But at the heart of a disciplined spiritual life is the discipline use of time.
If we are going to be like Jesus – we must use our time in a way that is pleasing to God. In Ephesians chapter five verses fifteen and sixteen we find:
“Look therefore carefully how ye walk, not as unwise, but as wise; redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:15-16 (ASV)
The Message Bible says it like this:
“So watch your step. Use your head. Make the most of every chance you get. These are desperate times!” Ephesians 5:15-16 (MSG)
Paul is telling us in this verse to:
1. Use Your Time WISELY
We find in Ephesians chapter five and verse fifteen an admonition – telling us to use our time wisely. What is interesting to me is – the reason given. Why should I use my time wisely? Ephesians chapter five and verse sixteen gives us the answer – “because the days are evil.” No I don’t think most of us go around saying, “Man – today was an evil day.” Or “Last week – Tuesday – was just plain wicked.” It would probably seem a little humorous if we spoke that way. But we do say, “Man am I having a rough day.” Or “”I’ll be glad when this day is over.” You see life is full of tests and trials. There is a spiritual battle going on – and so the days are evil. Christians down through the centuries has faced persecution and opposition – and in a real sense “the days are evil” still.
There are things in this world that would draw you and me away from the practice of godliness. Things that would rob us of good use of our time. They may range from high-tech to low-tech distractions. But they all cause us to be preoccupied with things that have no spiritual value what-so-ever. Paul tells us in Colossians chapter three and verse two:
“Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” Colossians 3:2 (NKJV)
Paul also says in Philippians:
“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things.” Philippians 4:8 (NKJV)
The things what we think about may not in themselves seem wicked or evil – but if their preoccupation of our minds draws us away from Christ – is that not in itself an evil? We need to redeem the time – take control of our thoughts and preoccupations – in order that we may better serve Christ. Use your time wisely.
Also you need to purposely:
2. Use Your Time In Preparation for ETERNITY
Do you realize that the decisions you make today can have an impact on eternity? You can experience unending joy or unending sorrow on decisions that you make today. Most of us realize that your life can be changed in an instant. If you have ever had a friend or relative die unexpectedly in an accident – you know what I am talking about. Everything in the day is going along as normal – then the news comes – there has been a terrible accident – and our lives a changed forever. What then is more precious than this moment? A small rudder determines the direction of a great ship. Move the wheel one inch to the left or one inch to the right and that action will determine into which port you land. Paul knew this fact when he wrote:
“Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:2 (NKJV)
Right now is the right time to prepare for where you will spend eternity. If this issue is unsettled in your mind – fix it now. You have no guarantee of any more time to prepare for eternity. You should not put it off – now is the day of salvation.
I have already hit on the next point but let me say:
3. Your Time Is LIMITED
How many of you have heard of the law of supply and demand. When something is in short supply and the demand is high – the price goes up. The more scarce something is – the more valuable it is. It is that simple. Gold and diamonds would be worthless if they were as common as rocks on ground. Time would not be so precious if we never died – but we do. My grandparents are no long alive – neither is my father. I have never met anyone older than 103 – but I have met one lady who lived to be that age. James tells us:
“You don’t know what will happen tomorrow. What is life? You are a mist that is seen for a moment and then disappears.” James 4:14 (GW)
Life in this world will come to an end – very few people have escaped this world without dying – even Jesus died. We live like we will never die – but this is not reality. Unless Christ comes before I die – I will die. No – it is not that I am looking forward to dying – I don’t walk around with morbid thoughts of death every day. But I know that chances are that I will die some day – and I need to prepare for it. I can’t stop it – but I can prepare for it. The book of Hebrews tells us:
“It is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.” Hebrews 9:27 (NKJV)
This brings me to point four:
4. Your Time Is PASSING
You can try to save time in a bottle – but it can’t be done. There is no fountain of youth in this life – that can give you back twenty years of life. I am always amazed when I see that show the before and after pictures of those who look younger. Yes you can make your appearance look younger – plastic surgeons have proved that. But does that really make you younger? The date you were born – is the date that you were born. It does not change by diet – exercise – or plastic surgery. Nothing can change that.
Let me give a word of caution here. I am not saying that we should not be concerned about our diet – exercise – or the way we look. We should. This body that we have is the temple of the Holy Spirit and we should treat it with respect. But be aware – someday this earthly temple will fall into ruin.
So what does all this mean? It means that time is passing. By the time I say this moment – that moment is gone – and it can’t be caught back up and put into a chest somewhere to be used later. Time does not work that way. King David when he knew his life was near an end called Solomon to his side and said:
"I go the way of all the earth; be strong, therefore, and prove yourself a man.” 1 Kings 2:1-2 (NKJV)
Time – you can not tie an anchor to it to slow it down. You can not capture it and put it in a bottle to be used later. You can not try to grab it – hold on to it – and make it last longer. It just does not respond that way. Time is passing.
Point five:
5. Your Time Is UNCERTAIN
If I were to hand you a calendar – could you mark the date that you will die on it? No – of course not. We do not know the day. I have been around when doctors have given a prognosis that a person would die in a short period time – and yet that person will linger on beyond the expected date. I have also conducted funerals for people who seemed healthy and yet have died suddenly. It seems that only God knows the time and date. Proverbs chapter twenty seven says:
“Don’t boast about tomorrow, for you don’t know what a day might bring.” Proverbs 27:1 (HCSB)
There are thousands of people who died today – who yesterday had no idea that today was to be their last day. Many of them were younger than you. I wonder if they would have spent yesterday differently – if they had only known.
Obviously, we make plans as though we are going to live many more years to come – but that might not be the case. Our time on earth is limited and it is uncertain. That brings us to the next point:
6. Your Time Is Easily LOST
All you need to do to lose time – is to do nothing.
There are many things in this world that you can lose and then regain. Time is not one of them. The minute a moment is gone it is gone forever. There is a Soap Opera that use to start out by saying, “Like sand through an hour glass – so are the days of our lives.” Time comes only to be gone in an instant. Jesus said:
“I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work.” John 9:4 (NKJV)
Jesus to realized that He had a limited time on this earth. We do too. The time for Godly living is now. Today is the day of salvation. Today is the day to follow Christ.
Point seven:
7. Only God Can Give You TIME Upon TIME
The time that God can give you is unlimited. It is called – Eternity. John chapter three tells us:
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 (NKJV)
Go ahead and circle the word “everlasting”. How long is everlasting? How long is eternity? How long is forever? I have no concept of everlasting – neither do you. But it is what God has promised us.
I have heard it said, “That if a sparrow flew to the Atlantic Ocean and filled his beak with water - and then flew all the way across the United States to the Pacific Ocean and emptied his beak – and then rested for 1,000 years - then he flew back to the Atlantic, filled his beak, flew to the Pacific, emptied his beak; and continued this process until the entire Atlantic Ocean was emptied into the Pacific Ocean, resting for 1,000 years between trips, and then put all the water back, after he was done - not one day of eternity would have passed! That’s how long a person who has accepted God’s gift of everlasting life can hope to spend with our Savior in eternity!” In God there are no time constraints – no time limitations – no effects of aging. That is what God has promised us. Life – everlasting life – eternal life – through Jesus Christ our Lord.
