Time Well Spent

A study revealed that an average seventy-year-old man has spent twenty-four years sleeping, fourteen years working, eight years in amusements, six years at the dinner table, five years in transportation, four years in conversation, three years in education, and two years in studying and reading.

His other four years were spent in miscellaneous pursuits. Of those four years, he spent forty-five minutes in church on Sundays, and five minutes were devoted to prayer each day. This adds up to a not at all impressive total of five months that he gave to God over the seventy years of his life.

Even if this man had been a faithful churchgoer who attended Sunday school and three one-hour services per week, he would have spent only one year and nine months in church!

If you have a question about the above arithmetic, sit down and figure out how you have been using your time. How large a portion of it is for the things related to God? When you finish this exercise, ponder what Jesus said: "What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? ..." (Matt. 16:26, NIV). 1392

As a Christians you have to purposely plan your priorities.

Time isn't ours to waste—it's a stewardship from God, entrusted to us for His glory and our growth.

In Acts 20:13-16, Paul doesn't stumble through his journey; he instructs, arranges, and decides with intention, hurrying toward Pentecost while balancing solitude, relationships, and mission.

His life shows us a rhythm: private time with God, people time with others, and public time for Worship, Evangelism and Discipleship.

3 ways to purposely plan our priorities, drawing from Paul's example and Jesus' life. This isn't about rigid schedules but aligning our days with God's revealed will—personal communion, Christian community, and congregational purposes .

Acts 20:13 “13 We went on ahead to the ship and sailed for Assos, where we were going to take Paul on board, because these were his instructions, since he himself was going by land.”

1. Purposely plan private time

Ex. Paul's "instructions" reveal a man who carved out space alone—walking by land while others sailed.

Date and Context: Occurred ~AD 57 during Paul's third missionary journey (Acts 20:13); he walked alone for solitude/reflection while companions sailed.

Starting Point: Alexandria Troas, a major Roman port city in northwestern Asia Minor (modern Turkey's Çanakkale Province).

Distance: ~31 miles (50 km) via winding Roman road; straight-line ~21 miles (33.8 km).

Duration: 1–2 days on foot; estimated 10–12 hours of walking at a steady pace (ancient travelers averaged 15–20 miles/day).

Route Highlights

South-southeast along Aegean coastline.

Passed Smintheion sanctuary (Temple of Apollo Smintheus).

Crossed Satnioeis River (modern Tuzla Çayı) via Roman bridge.

Ended with steep 780-ft (238 m) ascent to Assos acropolis.

Terrain: Rugged/mountainous with olive groves, pine forests, coastal views; paved Roman road sections but challenging with elevation and potential weather risks.

:Historical Significance

Part of Roman Via Sebaste/coastal networks for trade/pilgrimage.

Troas: Founded 310 BC, key military/commercial hub.

Assos: Aeolian Greek city (~1000 BC); home to Aristotle (tutored Alexander the Great, 340s BC).

Modern Access: Follows "Paul's Way" hiking trail; well-preserved archaeology including bridges/milestones.

This wasn't avoidance; it was intentional solitude to think, pray, and align with God's call. In a noisy world, private time is where we recharge our souls and hear God's voice clearly.

Il. Jesus withdrew for private time.

Luke 5:15–16 “15 But the news about him spread even more, and large crowds would come together to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. 16 Yet he often withdrew to deserted places and prayed.”

Mark 1:35 “35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he got up, went out, and made his way to a deserted place; and there he was praying.”

Luke 10:38–42 “38 While they were traveling, he entered a village, and a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. 39 She had a sister named Mary, who also sat at the Lord’s feet and was listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by her many tasks, and she came up and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to serve alone? So tell her to give me a hand.” 41 The Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has made the right choice, and it will not be taken away from her.””

Jesus’ purposeful planning shows us that aligning with God’s will sometimes means stepping away from the urgent to focus on the eternal.

The best Christian is he that is the greatest monopolizer of time for private prayer.

Thomas Brooks

The saint in public is a devil in private.

Charles Spurgeon

It is better to lose anything than to lose time; we can recover lost money, but time is irrecoverable.

John Chrysostom

Ap. Purposely planning means making intentional choices to honor God’s call, even if it requires saying “no” to other opportunities.

Pray: Block time daily for unhurried conversation with God—maybe mornings before the rush.

Read: Dive into Scripture, letting it shape your heart, even if just one chapter.

Recharge: Rest in God's presence through journaling, walks, or silence.

ACTION! Remember, seasons of life make these areas different—the way we do them may be unconventional. A new parent might pray with a baby in arms; a student during a late-night study break. The key is intentionality: What one private practice will you plan this week to refuel?

When you kill time- there is no resurrection.

Purposely plan private time prepares you for the…Purposely plan people time…

Acts 20:14–15 “14 When he met us at Assos, we took him on board and went on to Mitylene. 15 Sailing from there, the next day we arrived off Chios. The following day we crossed over to Samos, and the day after, we came to Miletus.”

2. Purposely plan people time

Ex. Overall Journey

Part of Paul's third missionary journey; coastal "island-hopping" route along Aegean Sea.

Distance: ~165 miles (265 km) over 3 days on a merchant ship (50-100 ft wooden vessel with sails/oars).

Travelers: Paul and companions (e.g., Luke); spring timing for mild weather but risks like squalls, winds, or pirates.

Daily life: Dawn starts, midday sails, evening anchors; meals of bread/olives/fish; fellowship amid creaking timbers and salt spray.

Day 1: Mitylene (Lesbos) to Off Chios (~65 miles / 105 km)

Route: South-southeast across open Aegean; visible land; from Lesbos hills to Chios's mastic-scented cliffs (famous for gum resin trade).

Conditions: Northerly winds aiding progress; choppy waves possible, causing seasickness.

Experience: ~8-10 hours sailing; prayers/testimonies on deck; dolphins/seabirds; anchored offshore at dusk under stars (Chios: Homer's birthplace).

Note: Trade stop bypassed for urgency.

Day 2: Chios to Samos (~80 miles / 130 km)

Route: Southwest via Ikaria Strait; "crossing over" narrow (1-mile) Strait of Mycale to Samos (Pythagoras's birthplace).

Conditions: Rocky coasts, strong currents, hidden reefs; high wreck concentration (58+ ancient sites nearby).

Experience: Tense navigation (captain's orders, oars if needed); scenic emerald hills/turquoise seas; urgency building toward Pentecost; brief port stop for water.

Note: Shortcut for trade (wine/figs); favored despite dangers.

Day 3: Samos to Miletus (~20 miles / 32 km, via Trogyllium)

Route: Southeast hugging coast past Priene; short hop to Trogyllium bay, then silted Miletus harbor (now inland due to Meander River).

Conditions: Calm waters, gentle breezes; low risk but tricky docking from silting.

Experience: Relaxed ~3-4 hours; relief as mainland nears; views of Miletus temples/markets (Thales's hometown, pop. ~50,000); prep for Ephesian farewell.

Note: Roman hub; bypassed Ephesus to save time.

Broader Reflection

Blend of beauty/peril: Scenic islands for fellowship; Paul's haste modeled mission focus.

Modern parallel: Yacht charters retrace the route today.

On this voyage, Paul likely shared stories of God's faithfulness, encouraging the weary travelers—just as he later exhorted the Ephesian elders in Acts 20:28-31 to shepherd their flock.

Friendship is one of the sweetest joys of life. Many might have failed beneath the bitterness of their trial had they not found a friend.

Charles Spurgeon

The typical expression of opening Friendship would be something like, “What? You too? I thought I was the only one.”

C. S. Lewis

Friendship must be about something even if it were only an enthusiasm for dominoes or white mice.

C. S. Lewis

Human friendship is a wonderful thing, but fellowship goes beyond friendship. Fellowship occurs among friends committed to a common cause or goal and flourishes through their common pursuit of it.

R. Kent Hughes

Il. Jesus balanced solitude with people time masterfully. After praying alone in Luke 6:12–13 “12 During those days he went out to the mountain to pray and spent all night in prayer to God. 13 When daylight came, he summoned his disciples, and he chose twelve of them, whom he also named apostles:”

He spent the night in prayer, then called and invested in His twelve disciples the next day. Jesus didn't just teach crowds; He built deep bonds, eating meals and walking dusty roads with them. This relational rhythm fueled His ministry and modeled how solitude overflows into community.

Ap.

Encourage: Schedule coffee with a struggling friend; speak life over their burdens.

Engage: Listen deeply in small groups or family devotions—ask questions that draw out hearts.

Enjoy: Celebrate with laughter and shared meals; God designed us for joy in one another.

ACTION! In every season—busyness of work, quiet of retirement—people time looks different, but it's vital. Who is one person God is calling you to invest in this week? Plan it now.

Purposely plan private time prepares you for the Purposely plan people time, Purposely plan people time prepares you for the Purposely plan public time

Acts 20:16 “16 For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus to avoid spending time in the province of Asia, because he was hurrying to be in Jerusalem, if possible, for the day of Pentecost.”

3. Purposely plan public time

Ex.

Paul bypasses even good stops like Ephesus to hurry toward Jerusalem's public feast—a bold choice for corporate worship, evangelism, and discipleship. His "decision" shows priorities aimed outward, toward God's global mission.

Approximately 704 miles

Travel took about 10-14 days total, including stops, under favorable spring winds but with risks like storms or delays.

The Jewish Feast of Pentecost (Shavuot)

Shavuot, often called the Jewish "Pentecost" (from the Greek *pentēkostē*, meaning "fiftieth"), is one of the three major pilgrimage festivals in Judaism (along with Passover and Sukkot). It celebrates both the spring harvest and the revelation of the Torah at Mount Sinai. Below are the key facts.

Timing and Observance

Date: The 50th day after the second day of Passover (Omer count begins on Passover's second night). Falls in late spring/early summer (May-June on the Gregorian calendar). In 2025, it begins at sunset on June 1 and ends June 3 (Diaspora) or June 2 (Israel).

Duration: One day in Israel; two days in the Diaspora (to account for calendar differences).

Biblical Command: Leviticus 23:15-21 instructs counting seven weeks (49 days) from the barley harvest offering, then celebrating the "Feast of Weeks" with wheat offerings and rest from work.

Historical and Biblical Significance

Harvest Festival: Marks the wheat harvest's start; ancient Israelites brought first fruits (bikkurim) and two loaves of leavened bread to the Temple as offerings (Exodus 23:16; Deuteronomy 16:9-12). It emphasized gratitude for God's provision and included joy, feasting, and charity to the poor.

Revelation at Sinai: By rabbinic tradition (developed post-Temple destruction in AD 70), it commemorates the giving of the Ten Commandments and Torah to Moses ~3,500 years ago (Exodus 19-20). The "50th day" symbolizes the Torah as spiritual "first fruits."

Connection to Christian Pentecost: The New Testament event in Acts 2 occurs during Shavuot in Jerusalem, linking the Jewish harvest feast to the "harvest" of the Holy Spirit and the Church's birth.

Customs and Traditions

Torah Study: All-night vigils (Tikkun Leil Shavuot) reading the Torah, Psalms, and mystical texts to "relive" Sinai.

Dairy Foods: Meals with cheesecake, blintzes, or milk (symbolizing Torah's "milk and honey" flow; Exodus 3:8).

Synagogue Decorations: Branches, flowers, and greenery evoke Sinai's thunder or the harvest.

Modern Practices: In Israel, agricultural parades (Bikkurim festivals) and kibbutz celebrations; globally, confirmation ceremonies for youth.

Il.

Luke 4:18–19 “18 The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free the oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

After private prayer and disciple investment, Jesus stepped into public arenas—temples, hillsides, cities—to preach, heal, and call people to follow. His life culminated at Pentecost's echo: the cross and resurrection, fulfilling God's redemptive plan.

ECOH of Paul

Luke 9:51 “51 When the days were coming to a close for him to be taken up, he determined to journey to Jerusalem.”

Ap.

Corporate Worship: Prioritize church gatherings; let songs and sermons refocus your worship.

Intentional Evangelism: Plan gospel conversations—invite a neighbor to coffee and share your story.

Dedicated Discipleship: Mentor one younger believer; teach what God's teaching you.

ACTION! Public time varies by season—perhaps online sharing for the homebound or street outreach for the bold—but it's non-negotiable. What public step will you take this month to advance God's kingdom?