Stewardship of Time

INTRO

Striving to become more godly (1 Tim 4:7-8); we have discussed 8 training exercises that will help us become more godly

The next exercise governs how well we will perform these 8: stewardship. Two areas of stewardship: time and money. We want to focus on the wise use of our time.

Time needed for these exercises. What hinders us from growing spiritually may be the oft-used refrain: I don’t have time

If we will become godly, we must discipline our time.

Bible study, prayer, evangelism, serving, worship all require time

DISCUSSION

God and Time

Time is the Creation of God (Gen 1:5; 14)

God is timeless and views it differently than we do (Ps 90:2-4; Ecc 3:11)

Jesus mastered his time

Born at the right time (Gal 4:4)

He made time for people (Jn 3:1-2)

He made time for Himself (Mk 1:35; Mt 14:23)

He made time for rest (MK 6:31-32)

He made time to die (Jn 12:21-23)

The expectation to use time wisely

He commands it (Eph 5:15-16)—redeem the time is to make the most of every opportunity (Col 4:5)

We will give an account for our time (Heb 5:12)

Use time wisely because of its fleeting nature

The days are evil (Eph 5:15-16; 6:13—wickedness in high places in these evil days)

Time is all we have to prepare for eternity

Each moment of time in your life is leading up to your last moment in time Heb 9:27

all we have is now (Heb 3:13)

Time is scarce

Jam 4 14 “Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.”

Value increases in eternity— “Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime...” (Lk 16:25)

Time passing 1 Jn 2:17 Life is like an hourglass, but you can’t turn it over.

Time is so easily lost

The Preacher’s Notebook: The Collected Quotes, Illustrations, and Prayers of John Stott Time Management Is Self-Management

Horace Mann: “LOST, yesterday, somewhere between sunrise and sunset, two golden hours, each set with sixty diamond minutes. No reward offered, for they are gone for ever” (p. 63).

Time is far more valuable than money. Money lost can be regained, but time is gone. How much time we wasted on vanities? Ecc 12:8 “Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity.”

Time is uncertain Pro 27:1

EXHORTATION

Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life We Value Time at Death

In his dying words, the famous French infidel Voltaire said to his doctor, “I will give you half of what I am worth if you will give me six-months’ life.” So desperate were his cries when his time was gone that the nurse who attended him said, “For all the wealth in Europe I would not see another infidel die.” Similarly, the last words of the English skeptic Thomas Hobbes were “If I had the whole world, I would give it to live one day.”

God has given us time to pursue holiness, the only thing that will allow us to see Him (Heb 12:14)

Spend your time on things that matter

Pursue holiness

People not gadgets; souls not netflix

What are you doing with your time?