Do You Have Time...?
Wise time-management principles can help you fulfill all your physical and spiritual responsibilities.
Ten
years ago, Geoff and Karen became baptized members of God's one true
Church. Thrilled to be freed from many time-consuming but false
traditions of this world, they settled into a diligent and
enthusiastic study of God's Word and God's way of life.
They
breathed sighs of relief when sunset marked the beginning of God's
weekly day of rest. The Sabbath rejuvenated them physically and
spiritually, and they felt refreshed and ready to begin a new week.
But as the years passed, other activities crowded in on them.
During the week and almost every Friday evening they were either entertaining others or being invited out the Sabbath
used to be a distinct day of rest. Now sunset seemed to signal tiresome hours of entertaining.
Time for quiet reflection and worship was lost to the needs of hospitality.
Then
there was the weekly Bible study conducted by the
Church. It involved rushing home from work, gulping down a meal, a
frustrating drive through city traffic, a battle with falling asleep
during the study — and even more tiredness at work the next day.
Then
Geoff joined the Church speaking club. Another Another rush home from
work, another hastily consumed meal and impatient word- with the family.
The
little time for prayer was being squeezed out by activities.
Personal study became little more than just reading Church literature
when there was time.
Then Geoff was invited to a Church
leadership training class and soon he was assisting the deacons. Now
there was even less lime with his family, as he was too busy serving
others.The little free time he did have on
the Sabbath diminished even further. And almost every Sunday
was special youth activities, church socials, service projects or fund
raising.
Geoff's and Karen's health deteriorated Their children
seemed emotionally disturbed and their marriage lurched perilously
close to shipwreck. Yet all this seemed in the best interests of
serving others.
Wasn't it?
They simply did not have the time anymore to do all the things that crowded in on them.
Where
do you find the time to be a growing Christian? Is there some great
secret you haven't yet discovered? How can you find time for quality
prayer, absorbing Bible study and meaningful time for your marriage and
family, and to be truly refreshed on God's Sabbath?
The key to time management
The
Bible holds the key to using time. Christians are admonished by the
apostle Paul to use lime wisely, "redeeming the time, because the days
are evil" (Ephesians 5:16).
Christian growth occurs during a
time span. And every person has as much time as the next, whether paper
boy or prime minister, farmer or executive, housewife or
teacher. But how differently people use their 24 hours
every day!
Proper management of time depends on proper management of yourself.
You either use time profitably or you let it pass you by.
You control what happens. And time let go is irretrievable.
Have
you observed how quick time passes when you are
absorbed in something and how
slowly it drags when you are bored?
If you
do not want to do something, you will find a dozen reasons for not
doing so. Yet if you really want to do something, nothing stops
you. As Christians, we are given biblical priorities, and our time must
be carved out to fulfill that calling. When there is a conflict of
interest, something must go. A Christian will either
live genuinely by what God requires or live
superficially, doing as little bit of everything but not enough of
anything. And God is not amused by religious lip service.
To be
quality Christians, we need to
maintain three priorities above all other personal needs and
desires. Let's look at these three areas.
Time with God
In
this modern age, how can you consistently make time for God? Simple.You
decide to. You make a commitment that God comes first in your daily
allocation of 24 hours. Jesus Christ promises that if you seek God
first, then the physical needs of this life will be supplied (Matthew
6:11).
In most cases it's best to decide that your first use of
the day is with your father in heaven. Begin the day with prayer. Other
wise you become quickly preoccupied with daily routine, You wash, get
dressed, eat breakfast and then exclaim. "Oh. look at the time — I must
rush".
After work you come home and have a meal, do some chores
try to relax, then it's bedtime and again you say. "Oh. no I haven't
prayed yet "
This is giving God the leftovers of your day. Give
Him the first part! You will feel better and have free use of the rest
of the hours for yourself.
What about Bible study? Decide that
time must be set aside. First thing in the morning is ideal and some
study can work as an aid to prayer. Further study can be done
later when more convenient. In a rushed schedule try these suggestions:
If
you commute on a train or bus, use travel time to read Church
literature. If you drive your own car, take advantage of cassette
tape readings from the Bible. Another idea is to write out key
scripture on small cards, then practice committing them to memory.
Carry then with you for free moments. Housewives, too, can keep
scripture cards close by when washing dishes and ironing or close to
their main work area.
You can also listen to cassette tape readings of the Bible as you clean house.
Busy
mothers with preschool children often find their time is taken up with
picking up after little ones. If your children tire you out and consume
your free time, then decide to change the situation. One helpful method
is to sit small children down on a rug with some books or toys and
command that they stay there quietly.
Discipline them lovingly
but firmly for leaving the rug, until they follow your instruction.
When they can stay in one place and play quietly for a while, you have
some time to study, pray or use as you choose. It can be done!
Time with family
What
if your mate or family do not share your interest in God's Word?
Remember that Christians are called to peace in the home and to be good
examples. Avoid shutting yourself off in a room to study if other
family members feel you are neglecting them.
When they wish you
to spend time with them, be available. Husbands and wives are sensitive
about neglect caused by an unbalanced example. Study privately find
acceptable ways and moments to do it so that your conduct is exemplary
before those who do not yet believe God's way.
One of the
restored truths of this end-time work of God is the nurturing of the
family. And extreme preoccupation with careers, entertaining, service
to others and social clubs will not be acceptable excuses before God
for having neglected your vital family responsibilities.
Paul
wrote, "If anyone does not provide for his own and especially for those
of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an
unbeliever" (I Timothy 5:8). What does provide for them mean?
Much
more than just providing financially, "providing" also means caring for
emotional and physical needs. It is giving your time. Where does your
family rate, in these priorities?
Time for yourself
All
humans need to slow down, rest and recuperate sometime. If you are a
workaholic or an inveterate socialite and entertainer, evaluate whether
all such pursuits are spiritually helping your relationship with God,
your mate, your family or yourself.
Time is needed for quiet reflection and meditation You must make and take personal time to be a Christian.
Questions to ask
If you find that you just don't have enough time, then ask yourself these questions:
What are you doing now That really doesn't need doing? Eliminate the unnecessary.
What are you doing that could he done just as well by someone else? Learn to delegate.
What
are you doing that wastes your time or the time of others? Have you
observed that often what you postpone you abandon anyway'?
Whatever
your difficulties with time management, God must come first, if He
doesn't then you really aren't serious about being a true Christian.
Take
time for prayer — it is the source of godly power. Take time for Bible
study it gains the mind of God. Take time for Family, each day is too
short to let it pass without sharing with those closest to you. Take
time to laugh it lightens life's burdens. Take time to Read — it's a
gold mine of wisdom and experience. Take time to reflect — it
unclutters the mind.
And above all else, take time for God — it is life's only lasting Investment!
What will you do with your next 24 hours?
by Graham J Marshall Good News May 1985
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