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Time is a creation of God. Time is God's currency, not ours. Time is free. You can't buy it, you can't sell it. We all have the same amount. Doesn't matter how old you are, what gender or race, we all are in the same situation
Why then, do some not have enough? We never have enough, but we routinely waste it. Everybody has their own time, but everybody wants others time! It's a precious resource, but often we don't know where it went. We are in charge of what we do with the time that God gives us.
Ecclesiastes 3:1
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.
There must be a time for everything. But many times we are tempted to say, "we don't have time". God says there is time, but we say we don't have time. What can we say about this? If we really believe there's a time for everything, then our job is to figure out when it is. Three quick points on time management :
1. Make The Kingdom Of God The Top Priority
Matthew 6:33-34
33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Today we see many people are confused with different priorities. God should be number one in our lives. If we give what belongs to God, then with the rest God can do the best through us. The pagans run after the things of this world, as Christians if we seek His Kingdom, God fulfills all our other needs.
On a daily basis our time should be focussed on the following : 1. Quiet Times, 2. Spouse, 3. Children, 4. Ministry, 5. Job and 6. Self.
Practically we have only 24 hours! Can we say this as an example :
Job : 12 hours max (includes travel to and fro)
Sleep : 8 hours max (medically minimum 6 hours is recommended)
Personal : 2 hours max ( eating, daily duties.... )
Total : 22 hours
Balance : 2 hours
Can we say everybody in general has 2 hours for Quiet Times and Ministry. With the list given above then family and children can be adjusted with the sacrifice made on our sleep and job. Lots of time is wasted on unproductive things, for ex. watching TV, Godless chatter.... How about taking a fast on not watching TV for a week, you may find more time spending with your family and friends/disciples!
2. Make It Your Ambition To Lead A Quiet Life
1 Thessalonians 4:11-12
11 Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you,
12 so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.
Many of us do not have time because our lives have become very complicated. The Bible advices Christians to lead a quiet, or in other words simple life. For ex. our forefathers did not have computers, cars, mobiles, gadgets.... so they had more time for their families. Those gadgets actually reduces the amount of time involved in different jobs. If we are disciplined we can make use of them for right priorities. Let us think of using the gadgets so that we can get more time to lead a quiet and simple life.
3. Make Plans
a. Isaiah 32:8
But the noble man makes noble plans, and by noble deeds he stands.
God wants us to make plans. Something coming up? Plan it out in advance. Planning enables us to use our time according to priorities. Few scriptures from Proverbs :
b. Proverbs 14:22
Do not those who plot evil go astray? But those who plan what is good find love and faithfulness.
c. Proverbs 16:3
Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.
d. Proverbs 20:18
Make plans by seeking advice; if you wage war, obtain guidance.
e. Proverbs 21:5
The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.
f. Proverbs 12:5
The plans of the righteous are just, but the advice of the wicked is deceitful.
Time management is complex, but God is in charge and he can help us figure it out. Jesus didn't have a watch, didn't have a system and yet he knew the time for everything.
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