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Volume. XXXVIII, No. 61 Biblical Principles for Good Time Management (Part 1) Eph 5:15-16, "See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil."
Introduction The importance of good stewardship of time cannot be over-emphasised (Eph 5:15,16; Col 4:5). We have time, talent and treasure (or resources) for our earthly usage, to be accountable for one day. Believers have a grave duty to account for the employment of their time here on earth at the judgment seat of Christ one day (2 Cor 5:10).
A Poser Consider this. What would you say if a rich relative banked $86,400 a day into your bank account on the one condition that you have to use it up all in a day or else he will take it back. You cannot hoard it or keep it till the next day but it must be consumed daily. This is exactly the amount of seconds we have each day from the Lord. There is a certain discipline that is required of every believer. Temperance is a facet of the fruit of the spirit (Gal 5:22, 23) and we need to learn self control as well. Good planning and organisation of the day is a requisite for a meaningful and fruitful Christian life.
It's About Time If you aim at nothing you are bound to hit it. There is a need for proper directions in the ministry as well. The need to apportion time for God is a vital part of abundant living. Do not put off what you can do today. Procrastination is the thief of time and we have been robbed often. The days that we have at hand are numbered and we need to treasure and redeem time. There is a time for everything (Ecc 3:1-9). Consider the following:
The parable of the talents (Matt 25) and the pounds (Luke 16) give us good examples of how important proper stewardship is to God. God rewards faithfulness and spiritual productivity and deplores laziness. There is such a thing as priority and good quality time and time that is not productive. Endeavour to give of your best hours to the Lord first in the morning in devotion first.
It is vital to have a balanced and well ordered day. We need to have time for rest, for labour, for family, for exercise, and most important of all, for God. A sister shared at the funeral of her mother, that she wished she had spent more time with her loved ones rather than just on work alone. Moses had aptly said in Psalm 90:12, "teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom." This is so true (something to think about).
Today, men strive to 'gain control of our time'. Gadget 'gurus' provide time management tools, such as the 'Palm Pilot,' to help us track everything from appointments and meetings to addresses, databases, stock quotes and email. But even state-of-the-art technology cannot give us control of time as we ought to if we have no self-discipline. Discipline and spiritual direction is needful (Gal 5:23).
Life and Death At a recent member's funeral, we reflected upon the faith of the deceased and how she trusted in the words in 'Amazing Grace', which says that when we've been in Heaven 10,000 years, we will have "… no less days to sing God's praise than when we first begun ..." It really takes the edge off when we view life in eternal terms. The urgency remains, although for different reasons. The author feels an urgency to tell others what Christ said in John 11:26, "And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?" I believe, and I want to tell others while there is still time (Psa 90:12) before it is too late. Remember also one of the devil's greatest wiles is to wait awhile.
Life on this earth is brief and how we choose to live it, is up to us. We find an example of this truth in the death of someone recently. For believers, death is a vivid reminder of James 4:14 which describes life as a "vapour that appears for a little time, and then vanisheth away." It is a departure to a better place, with God forever.
The deaths of loved ones can cause us to ask important questions:
To be continued…
By Rev Jack Sin Sovereign Hope BPC Church, Singapore |
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