The Discipline of Time

How Do We Spend our Time?

Look at the slides:

Report from the Bureau of Labor and Statistics taken between 2011-2021 with the exception of 2020 because is was an outlier

Time is Precious

Puritan preacher and reformer Jonathan Edwards Sermon from December 1734 “The Preciousness of Time and the Importance of Redeeming It”

Ephesians 5:15–16 ESV

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.

Why must we be disciplined/wise in the use of time

The days are evils

The natural course of our days and time is toward evil, be it high tech, or idleness (idle talk, idle hands), preoccupation

Time is the stuff that days are made of. If we are not disciplined in it the use of time these evil days will keep us from being godly.

Why is Time Precious?

1. Time is Preparation for Eternity

You must must prepare for eternity in time- this life

We determine the preciousness of something based on their importance or the degree to which they improve our welfare

This makes time precious because our earthly and eternal welfare depends on the improvement of it, (the wise use of it)

If we fail to improve our time (use it wisely) we would be in danger of coming to poverty, but in making good use of it we can obtain those things that are useful and comfortable.

Above all our state through eternity depends on it

There are no second chances to prepare for eternity after we cross over the threshold into eternity.

Time is a precious gift, because by it we have opportunity of escaping everlasting misery and of obtaining everlasting blessedness

2 Corinthians 6:2 Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

2. Time is Short

The scarcity of any commodity correlates to the value set upon it, especially if its necessary and can’t be done without

For example grain prices, COVID’s impact, Hurricane and natural disasters impact

James 4:14 ESV

yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.

Time is short and the work we have to do in its is great, that we have none to spare

Psalm 139:16 (ESV)

Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.

Our days are appointed for some work, therefore he will call us into account

as an employee is accountable to his employer for the time he spends in the work he assigned, so we are accountable to God

Matthew 12:36 ESV

I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak,

Therefore we can conclude that we will be held accountable for the “careless” use of our time

3. Time is Uncertain

We know that time is short but we don’t know how short- how much we have left and how quickly it will pass

Proverbs 27:1 (ESV)

Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.

Psalm 31:15 (ESV)

My times are in your hand; rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors!

It is wise of us to make certain plans as if we are going to live here many years

Use our time for the purpose of godliness as if we were not going to live past tomorrow

How might the use of our time change if we know how much of it we had?

Theology according to Tim McGraw- Live Like You were Dying

The uncertainty of time “is a very certain, uncertainty.”

4. Time is Passing

1 John 2:17 ESV

And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

Time is passing yet we speak of saving time, buying time, making up for lost time

Most of the time in life we can regain those things which we lose, sell or give away again if needed later on

Like Declan trading baseball cards- he can probably get that card back, it might cost him more but he has opportunity to regain it

But that is not so with respect to time

As a child time seemed to drag, as we get older is seems to go by more quickly

The lie of time that the Devil tells us, how he attacks the preciousness of time as it relates to that which is most precious about it, our preparation for eternity

The devil makes fools of them; for when they are young, he tells them, there is time enough hereafter, there is no need of being in haste, it will be better seeking salvation hereafter; and then they believe him. Afterwards, when their youth is past, he tells them, that now they have lost so much, and the best of their time, that it is not worth their while to attempt to do anything; and now they believe him too. So that with them no time is good. The season of youth is not a good time; for that is most fit for pleasure and mirth, and there will be enough afterwards. And what comes afterwards is not a good time, because the best of it is gone. Thus are men infatuated and ruined.

Time is continually being offered to us, but it does not wait for us to comply with its offer, that part of time is taken away and never offered again, that part of time is gone

Redeeming the Time

1. Start Today

If you delay still more time will be lost

Do not be deceived by the aforementioned lie of the Devil

Redeem the time while you have it

2. Redeem those time that are most precious

Some parts of time are more precious/valuable than others

Holy time verses common time- consider its advantage for your eternal welfare

Redeem your Sabbath’s

The times of public worship

Redeem the years of your youth

If you are in these years, don’t let them slip past

3. Redeem your leisure time

This is the time away from wordly business, that is your job

Edwards calls this time- “a happy opportunity for the soul.”

Therefore be careful not to spend that time entirely in unprofitable ways or such a manner that you will not be able to give account to God

Conclusion

Ephesians 5:15–16 ESV

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.