9.1 Key themes⤒🔗

• The Bible teaches us that:
  1. Time is a gift from God.
  2. God gives us enough time.
  3. Our time is limited.
  4. God expects us to use our time well.
   
• There are three dangers we should stay away from:
  1. Wasting time
  2. Trying to stretch our time
  3. Trying to squeeze too many things in
   
• Certain habits will help us to be careful timekeepers. For example:
  1. Starting the day in peace
  2. Planning
  3. Doing important things first

9.2 Ephesians 5:15-17←⤒🔗

^5:15 Therefore be very careful how you live – not as unwise but as wise,

^5:16 taking advantage of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

^5:17 For this reason do not be foolish, but be wise by understanding what the Lord’s will is.

© NET Bible

9.3 What the Bible teaches about time←⤒🔗

As people, our lives are shaped by time. We live our lives from second to second, minute to minute, hour to hour, day to day, year to year. That is how God created us.

In his Word, God tells us the truth about time and how to use it. Here are four important things that the Bible says about time:

1. Time is a gift from God.←↰⤒🔗

We do not even deserve one second of time in this world. Every moment is a gift that God gives to us, out of his grace (see James 1:17; 2 Peter 3:9).

2. God gives us enough time.←↰⤒🔗

Sometimes we complain that we do not have enough time. Especially if you are a Christian leader, you can feel that there is too much to do! But the truth is that God gives us enough time for everything that he wants us to do (see Ecclesiastes 3).

3. Our time is limited.←↰⤒🔗

Our time in this world is short. God has already decided how many days we will live (Psalm 139:16).

4. God expects us to use our time well.←↰⤒🔗

Each of us will have to give account to God about how we used our time on earth (see Matthew 25:14-30; Luke 12:35-48; Romans 14:12).

All four of these truths can be seen in our passage (Ephesians 5:15-17). In verse 16 we find an important command. In this verse God tells us to make “the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil”.

Why are the days evil? Because we are still waiting for Jesus Christ to return. Until then, the devil has a lot of power in this world. Many people do not know or glorify God. Many evil things happen. The time is coming soon, when this world will come to an end.

Knowing this, we should make the most of every opportunity. We should serve God with the little time that we have in this world. This will not be easy. It will take sacrifice and self-discipline from us. We will have to be careful timekeepers.

9.4 Three dangers←⤒🔗

There are three dangers that we must avoid, if we want to be careful timekeepers:

1. The danger of wasting time.←↰⤒🔗

Wasting time is a sin against God, because time is a gift from God. We can waste time by being lazy. We can also waste time when we do not plan ahead. A person can be running around the whole day, but still waste time because he did not plan.

It is also possible to waste time by doing things at the wrong time. For example, think of a student who plays during the day and studies during the night. Or think of a woman who talks to her friends when she should be cleaning the house!

Normally, when we waste time, it is because we are not self-disciplined. We only do what we feel like doing – not what God calls us to do.

2. The danger of trying to stretch our time.←↰⤒🔗

For example, we may stay up late every night to work. Or we may try to work seven days a week. That is not how God made us. He made us to work six days and rest one day. He also made us to sleep at night (Psalm 127). If you don’t rest, you will only work slower. You will not achieve more.

3. The danger of trying to squeeze too many things in.←↰⤒🔗

If you try to do too much, you will not do things well. The reality is that a day is only 24 hours long. Do not squeeze too many things into one day. Otherwise you will become stressed and you will not enjoy life. Yes, we can sin by doing too little. But we can also sin by trying to do too much.

Now you know of three things that you should not do. You should not waste, stretch, or squeeze! But how should you use your time? Let us look at ten ways in which you can be a careful timekeeper.

9.5 How to be a careful timekeeper←⤒🔗

1. Start the day in peace.←↰⤒🔗

Get up early enough to read the Bible and pray. These first moments of the day are important. Normally, if you use them well, the rest of your day will also be peaceful.

2. Plan your day.←↰⤒🔗

Take a little time to plan your day and week. It is a good idea to write your tasks down, and to use a calendar.

3. From most important to least important.←↰⤒🔗

No one can do everything. Decide what things are most important. Make sure that you use most of your time for these things. For example, if you are a preacher, you will need a lot of time every week to study the Bible and write your sermons.

4. Choose the right time for every task.←↰⤒🔗

As we see in Ecclesiastes 3, there is a time for everything. Choose your times wisely! For example, if you are sleepy after lunch time, you can plan to do easier tasks during that time.

5. Complete difficult tasks as soon as possible.←↰⤒🔗

If we don’t want to do something, it is always easier to leave it for later. But this will not help us. A difficult task will not go away when you ignore it! Proverbs 6: 6-8 tells us that we should follow the example of the ants. Ants work hard in summer, so that they will have enough food when winter comes. 

It is best to do difficult tasks as soon as possible, and early in the day. When a difficult task is done, you will feel good.

6. Not too quick, not too slow.←↰⤒🔗

Some people are always in a hurry. They almost never have time for their family or for other people. Other people work too slowly and they never get things done. We need to find a balance. Work fast enough to complete your tasks, but slowly enough to do them well. This will help you to enjoy your life and work.

7. Get rid of time-wasters.←↰⤒🔗

Are there things in your life that waste your time? Maybe you are spending hours on your phone. Or maybe you sleep too much. Get rid of the things that steal your time. 

8. Protect your time.←↰⤒🔗

Focus on the task you are busy with. Do not let your phone or other things interrupt you. This is very important when you are studying and preparing for sermons. You can also ask your wife to help you to protect this time.

9. Rest.←↰⤒🔗

Choose one day in the week that you will not do any work. For most people, this day should be a Sunday. But a preacher may have to choose another day of the week. Take this day to rest and to enjoy time with your family.

 10. Remember that time is precious.←↰⤒🔗

You do not know what will happen tomorrow (James 4:13-16). You only have today, and today is a precious gift. Do not waste it. Use it for the glory of God. He sees everything you do, and he will reward you (1 Corinthians 15:58)!