Are You Committed to the Church?

Are you committed to the church...or simply dating it? 1 Corinthians 12:12, "the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ."

How Can We Make the Most Our Time? Part 2

Part 1

Previously we looked at three principles for time management from Ephesians 5:15-17. #1 Look closely at your life, #2 Plan your day, & #3 Don't procrastinate. To finish the study lets look at three more principles to honor Christ with our time.

(4) Appreciate interruptions. Look at how Jesus dealt with interruptions. 

Luke 8:41-56, "And there came a man named Jairus, who was a ruler of the synagogue. And falling at Jesus’ feet, he implored him to come to his house, for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying. 

 As Jesus went, the people pressed around him. And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and though she had spent all her living on physicians, she could not be healed by anyone. She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her discharge of blood ceased. And Jesus said, “Who was it that touched me?” When all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!” But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me.” And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.”

  While he was still speaking, someone from the ruler’s house came and said, “Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher any more.” But Jesus on hearing this answered him, “Do not fear; only believe, and she will be well.” And when he came to the house, he allowed no one to enter with him, except Peter and John and James, and the father and mother of the child. And all were weeping and mourning for her, but he said, “Do not weep, for she is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. But taking her by the hand he called, saying, “Child, arise.” And her spirit returned, and she got up at once. And he directed that something should be given her to eat. And her parents were amazed, but he charged them to tell no one what had happened."

As J. Oswald Sanders states, interruptions can be “divinely interjected opportunities.” If God is in control of all things, he is definitely in control of the interruptions of our day.

(5) Delegate. Don't let yourself get burned out, being a one-man band. Exodus 18:14-23, "When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, “What is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone, and all the people stand around you from morning till evening?”  And Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because zthe people come to me to inquire of God;  awhen they have a dispute, they come to me and I decide between one person and another, and I bmake them know the statutes of God and his laws.”  Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good.  You and the people with you will certainly wear yourselves out, for the thing is too heavy for you. cYou are not able to do it alone.  Now obey my voice; I will give you advice, and God be with you! You shall drepresent the people before God and ebring their cases to God,  and you shall warn them about the statutes and the laws, and make them know fthe way in which they must walk and gwhat they must do.  Moreover, look for hable men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.  And ilet them judge the people at all times. jEvery great matter they shall bring to you, but any small matter they shall decide themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they will kbear the burden with you.  If you do this, God will direct you, you will be lable to endure, and all this people also will go to their place in peace.”  

What does this teach us? DELEGATE! Do only the things no one else can do. This is not a principal of laziness to get out of work…but to ensure the work is done.

(6) Praise God for the time He has given and His unfailing love during our failures. Psalm 103:15-18, "As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more. But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children, to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments."

How Can We Make the Most Our Time? Part 1

Ephesians 5:15-17, "Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is."

Ever felt like there’s not enough hours in the day? And definitely not enough hours at night for sleep? How can we make the most of our time? 

(1) Look Closely at Your Life (Eph 5:15). God wants us to be wise in the way that we manage our time.We need to slow down or even stop, and take a good look at all that you are doing. What eats up most of your time, because that’s eating up your life? If you want to save time, you need to figure out where you are losing it first. Find out the time leaks, identify the time wasters. If you find yourself asking all the time, “Where did my time go?” You need to stop and inspect your lifestyle.

(2) Begin to plan your day (Eph 5:16) “making the best use of your time.” Psalm 90:12, “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Schedule your day. Get a calendar and use it. The downside to scheduling the day is there will inevitably be failures, so celebrate the small victories. Its very easy to focus on the failures. Not being able to scratch another daily goal off the list can be very disheartening. Also don’t compare yourselves with other people and families, just because someone else is doing something one way doesn't mean its best for your family. Every family situation is different, just focus on honoring Christ with your time.

(3) Be wise and Don’t procrastinate (Eph 5:17). "Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is." Prov. 27:1, "Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth." Motivate yourself with the text. James 4:17 speaks very strongly against procrastination. He says, “Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.” Sin is not merely doing wrong, it is failing to do what you ought to do. We must cultivate a habit of instant obedience before God and motivate my heart to be prompt. After all this is what we require of our children is it not?

Procrastination takes away opportunities for growth. Procrastination and disobedience are two shades of the same sin. All of us have different areas that we procrastinate in and each area is different for all of us. What are you putting off when it comes to your spiritual growth? Have you ever heard someone say, “I would like to read my Bible but I just don’t have time.” Or have you caught yourself saying it or thinking it? Procrastination also takes away opportunities for service. James 4:13-14, “Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.” Hebrews 3:13, “But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today," so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” Galatians 6:10, “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good to all men.” God is always putting things on our heart to minister to others. So many times, we get so busy with our own needs and failures we neglect ministry. How often have you wanted to get involved in ministry and because of being behind on tasks, ministry takes a backseat. You cannot love and serve people without investing some of your time in them. You also cannot love and serve a church without investing some of your time in its ministries. Psalm 119:60 says, “I made haste, and did not delay to keep Your commandments.”

Next I'll touch on three more principles of time management that I pray will encourage you to use your time to honor Christ.