Introduction
We all get to use the same amount of time each week- 24 hours each day for seven days or 168 hours in the week or if you want to go down to seconds- there are 604,800 seconds in a week. Although we all get that same amount of time in a week, I can dare say that we all do not spent that time the same way that God would desire us to spend that time – serving Him.
On Wednesday night, in Bro Greg’s sermon, he went around the room getting testimonies from people. Jim Stewart gave one and what stuck out to me is that Jim said that his only regret in life is that I wasted so much time in my life not serving God. And if we are honest with ourselves, we probably can say that same thing Jim said: “I have wasted so much time in my life not serving God.”
So, if we are to return to God as we have been talking about over the last several sermons, a call that God gives us in Hosea 14:1 Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God (or it could be a call to you and me) then we have to look at how we spend the time given to us and probably reschedule that time to serve Him better. What I am telling you is that some of our spiritual struggles is that we mismanage the time given to us.
I think the Apostle Paul realizes this time management spiritual struggle we face, and I believe in an effort to help us that he gives us some guidelines as to know when we might need to reschedule the time given to us. So, if you have your Bible turn with me to Ephesians 5:15-17. Please stand!
Scripture
Ephesians 5:15-17 (NIV)
15 Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise,
16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.
17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.
Point #1
YOU MIGHT NEED TO RESCHEDULE THE TIME GIVEN TO YOU IF WE ARE MAKING BAD CHOICES AS TO HOW YOU USE THE TIME GIVEN TO YOU.
15 Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise,
If I needed dialysis because of kidney disease and had to be at the dialysis center three times a week for treatment at 8:00am, I certainly wouldn’t accept an invitation to do anything else during those times, no matter how appealing it seemed or how much I wanted to do it. I would know my life depended on guarding that time. We need to be that serious about our time with God. This world tries to rob us of our time with God; and Paul says that we must guard it. Paul warns us to be very careful.
Oh, I understand why we feel we would need to guard that dialysis appointments because if I am not there on my scheduled time the dialysis center might be booked up and cannot take me. And that would have dire consequences to my health. Now when it comes to God, I know if I miss my appointment with Him, it is not a big problem because God is always available for me. I can catch Him later. So, if I skip or reschedule my time with God to do something that I feel more urgent. No big deal! Paul says that is foolish living. We need to know that our appointments with God are the most urgent things we have on our schedule.
As a pastor right here at Bala Chitto over the past 26 years, I wish I could tell how many times I have had people tell me “I don’t have time.” On Wednesday night church, we average about 13-16 people in attendance during the pandemic and maybe about 20 people before the pandemic. That means a whole of people are not coming. If I would call up those who are not here, I am sure that I would get a number of church members tell me that on the weekdays I am just so busy, I don’t have the time. And as your pastor, being as loving as I am, I say that I understand. But here is the problem: you are not accountable to me, but to God. Will God understand that you don’t have time for Him? When you explain that to God, let me know how that goes for you.
If we are to manage life carefully, we must manage time God’s way. And in case you don’t know it, God’s way, He is first. The first commandment is to love God with all your heart, mind, and soul.
The truth is some of us need to reschedule the time given to us because we are making bad choices as to how we use that time.
Point #2
YOU MIGHT NEED TO RESCHEDULE THE TIME GIVEN TO YOU IF YOU SEE IT AS BELONGING TO YOU RATHER THAN GOD.
16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.
Have you ever heard someone say: “I will do it in my time?” Let me make this as blunt as I can make it. You don’t have a time. You are living off God’s timing for you. Let me tell you why that is th e case.
Ephesians 2:1-2 (NIV)
1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,
2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.
How much time does a dead person have? None! The moment I sinned I used up my time for the wages of sin is death. I deserved to die that very moment. I would dare say that everyone in this church building or out in that parking lot or watching on Facebook have used up their time. What did it take? Just one sin! If I get to take the next breath that I take, it is because I am operating on God’s time. And so. I ought to be appreciative of the time that I have by doing what God ask me to do.
And He tells you and me with the time that He has given us to make the most of the opportunities that He gives us to serve Him.
How do you think God feels when His spirit leads you to share Christ with a person and you don’t? He has given you the time, and the Bible tells you that God’s spirit will tell you what to say, and so God will say you don’t have an excuse.
So, how do you think God feels when He tells us not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together and you don’t because you just want a “me” day or I just got too many things to do.
And there is even a caution in verse16. It tells us that as the days become full of evil, we better make sure that we make the most of every opportunity to serve Christ so that others can see the light.
Ephesians 5:8-10 (NIV)
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light
9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth)
10 and find out what pleases the Lord.
Let me show you how Jesus model making the most of every opportunity. And Jesus is asking you and me to do the same thing- to make the most of every opportunity.
John 13:1-5 (NIV)
1 It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.
2 The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus.
3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God;
4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist.
5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
Jesus’ time had come to leave this world. Some Scriptures say that His hour has come. He does not spend it on me time but rather He teaches His disciples how to serve. Jesus was making the most of the opportunity and He calls us to do the same.
We might need to reschedule the time given to us if we are not making the most of every opportunity.
Point #3
YOU MIGHT NEED TO RESCHEDULE THE TIME GIVEN TO YOU IF YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT GOD WANTS TO DO IN AND THROUGH YOUR LIFE.
17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.
If I asked you: What is God’s will for your life? And your answer is that Paul in this passage is telling you that you are not spending enough time with God in prayer, Bible Study, or church.
Paul is saying that understanding the will of the Lord for your life is no big secret; it is not hidden somewhere, and you got to search until you find it. It comes by spending time with God. And if your time is scheduled properly you will know what the Lord’s will for your life is.
If you have a job and you have been there for some time, you know what the boss wants you to do even before he ask because you have put in the time with him to know what he wants you to do.
If you are a new employee, you do what the boss ask you to do and then you must wait for the next instruction from the boss before you tackle that next task. You have not spent the time with him to know what he wants you to do.
So, Paul is saying time with the Lord is the way you understand what the will of the Lord is for your life.
You might need to reschedule the time that God has given you so that you can understand what He wants to do in and through your life.
Let us pray!
