It’s About Time, pt. 2
Psalm 31:14-15
WHY MANAGE YOURSELF? If you don’t manage yourself, something else will and YOU may not accomplish what you really want to do.
A. The scripture indicates that you should manage yourself.
Eccles. 3:1
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
1. We are to use time wisely.
Ephes. 5:15-16
See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, [16] Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
2. The Christian is held accountable for the time, talent, and treasure God gives him.
Psalm 90:10,12 The length of our days is seventy years
B. The very nature of time makes it necessary that you manage yourself.
1. Time cannot be stopped.
2. Time cannot be stretched.
3. Time cannot be reproduced.
• Have you noticed how stubborn and uncooperative time is?
When you want it to zip by, it drags
When you want it to slow down, it’s tomorrow already
Two weeks on vacation is never like two weeks on a strict diet, is it?
Deadlines arrive so quickly, but habits take so long to break
It seems the month (or year) only started and it’s over
• Swindoll, “Some folks can stay longer in an hour than others in a week.”
• The really amazing thing is that in every situation, each hour had exactly 60 minutes—no more, no less
• Psalm 31:14-15 “Thou art my God, My times are in Thy hand.”
TWO CONCEPTS OF TIME:
1 - measured by segments (hours, minutes, seconds)
takes 40 minutes to fly from here to St. Louis.
takes 3 minutes to hard-boil an egg
how long would you nuke 1 hot dog?
2 - measured by significant events (seasons, epics, eras) like a period of time
Farmers measure by Plowing, Planting, & Harvesting
Families measure by birthdays & anniversaries & Special Occasions
DEFINING TIME BIBLICALLY
Two Words Used for Time in Bible
1 - kronos - measured segments: quantity
2 - kairos - opportunities / seasons: quality
SO, WHAT TIME IS IT ANYWAY?
According to the Scriptures. . .
I. It is THE LAST TIME
1 John 2.18
Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that Antichrist shall come, even now are there many Antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
We are living so much closer to Christ’s return than in John’s or Jesus’ day.
2 Peter 3.8-14 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. {9} The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. {10} But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. {11} Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, {12} Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? {13} Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. {14} Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
It is sure that the Lord could come at any time. We should have a certain sense of hope & of urgency. How should we live because of this? Is there an urgency about our lives?
Are there different priorities we should have?
How do we spend our “leisure” time?
Rev. 10:6 [Jesus, the “Mighty Angel” of this passage said]
And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer:
Since we are in “The Last Times,”. . .
II. It is TIME FOR HOLINESS
Romans 13.11 “ And that, knowing the time, and now that it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.”
Physical weariness settles in on us when we’ve been awake a long time – All-niters
Spiritual weariness sometimes overcomes us when we’ve been a Christian for a while.
Paul, “WAKE UP!!!”
We know the times & seasons - our salvation is nearer than when we first believed, cast off darkness & put on the Lord Jesus Christ.
How do you use your time differently since you accepted Christ or dedicated yourself to Him as compared to before?
Do you spend enough time with God, getting to know Him?
We should spend the rest of our time on earth doing the will of God.
1 Peter 1:17
And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:
III. It is THE TIME OF OPPORTUNITY
Ephesians 5.16: Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Colossians 4:5 Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.
What do you hear God saying to you here? “REDEEMING THE TIME” “Be more efficient” / “Work more quickly” / “Be better organized” ???
Or, HAVE BETTER PRIORITIES/USE YOUR TIME WISELY!
This is the “kairos” use of the word
“redeem the seasons or buy up the opportunities”
It is not necessarily to squeeze more activity into less time but to use the time we have for God’s glory / Holy Living
Opportunity to ???
Witness / Serve / Give / Accept Christ if not already!
• Satan attacks our use of time
Use a time-log for 1 week
Identify your time-wasters / Do you already know what they are?
How important do you think our use of time is going to be at the Judgment Seat of Christ?
Will we be accountable for our stewardship of time?
How would God evaluate your use of the last 24 hours?
Any major time-wasters there?
Anything you are particularly proud of? or ashamed of?
Say, “God, You are my God. My times are in Your hands.”
Some final guidelines:
• Forget Yesterday
Philip. 3:13-14
Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, [14] I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
• Make Him Lord over Today
…your relationships, emotions, possessions, & Time, Talent, Treasures.
Matthew 6:33
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
• Trust Him with Tomorrow
Ps. 46.1 “Be still. . .” Be patient in waiting on the Lord.
“One day at a time…”
“I don’t know what tomorrow holds, but I know Who holds tomorrow, and I know Who holds my hand!”
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This will take you to this sermon, which will also link to the other 3 parts to the series on Management of Money and Time.
www.gbcdecatur.org/sermons/AboutTime2.html
