Managing Time in Light of Eternity

Josh Thiessen reflects upon one of the most important paragraphs he has has ever read in his life:

A month ago, Jesse published a couple  paragraphs that changed his life, and it got me thinking about some of the most impactful paragraphs I have listened to or read.I heard one of those paragraphs by Jonathan Edwards while listening to Steve Lawson’s sermon titled, “The Use of Your Time” from the Resolved Conference.

Later, I read Jonathan Edwards entire sermon called The Preciousness of Time and the Importance of Redeeming It. But there was one paragraph in particular that truly changed my life. It still rings in my ear and almost whispers over my shoulder as I sit at my desk every morning. While arguing for the preciousness of time, Edwards gives this as his second argument:

Second, time is very short, which is another thing that renders it very precious. The scarcity of any commodity occasions men to set a higher value upon it, especially if it be necessary and they cannot do without it. Thus when Samaria was besieged by the Syrians, and provisions were exceedingly scarce, “an ass’s head was sold for fourscore pieces of silver, and the fourth part of a cab of dove’s dung for five pieces of silver.” 2 Kin. 6:25. — So time is the more to be prized by men, because a whole eternity depends upon it; and yet we have but a little of time. “When a few years are come, then I shall go the way whence I shall not return.” Job 16:22. “My days are swifter than a post. They are passed away as the swift ships; as the eagle that hasteth to the prey.” Job 9:25, 26. “Our life; what is it? It is but a vapour which appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.” Jam. 4:14. It is but as a moment to eternity. Time is so short, and the work which we have to do in it is so great, that we have none of it to spare. The work which we have to do to prepare for eternity, must be done in time, or it never can be done; and it is found to be a work of great difficulty and labor, and therefore that for which time is the more requisite.

I remember listening to this sermon while I was jogging around a lake. I was 19 and these words forever changed how I manage my time. The understanding that time is the period in which I can only ever do what needs to be done for eternity was a staggering and motivating reality.

This paragraph still helps me to have an eternal perspective on every hour of every day and reminds me that God has given me only so much time to do ministry and then it is gone forever.”

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Are you really busy?

I need to let this brew some more.

“It is not busyness that eats the life out of the soul, if busyness means simply having lots to do. To be human is to have lots to do. What wears down the inner life is the impossibility of sustained concentration in a world where everything under the sun is relentlessly, rapidly, even simultaneously presented to the senses with demand for some kind of response, though no response is expected. It’s the bewildering fragmentation that accompanies unlimited access to everything. It’s the barrenness that results when one’s most significant contact, quantitatively speaking, is with virtual reality, insulated from the solid pleasures and stubborn challenges of pre-virtual reality: back porch conversation, rainstorms, weeds, machinery parts, street beggars, and handheld musical instruments. It is the lethargy, the listlessness that breeds when all is instant (or trying to be), when one has forgotten how to be deliberate, and to write in pencil. It’s not busyness that eats away the soul; it’s the acid of catered sovereignty, of dwindling finitude.”

(HT: Relocating to Elfland)

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Not enough time

“We cannot do everything: there is not enough time.  Like Mary, therefore, we shall have to choose and choose very deliberately. Life’s affairs will not automatically sort themselves into a true order of priorities.  If we do not consciously insist on making ‘sitting at the Lord’s feet and listening to His word’ our number one necessity, a thousand and one other things and duties, all claiming to be prior necessities, will tyrannize our time and energies and rob us of the ‘good part’ in life.”

–David Gooding commenting on Mary and Martha in Luke 10:38-42,  According to Luke, p. 216

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Overcoming our own overbusyness

I have been meditating on Luke 10:38-42 the last few days as this was one of the primary verses we discussed at our last men’s Bible study. It is the story of Mary and Martha when Jesus came to visit them.  Here’s the story:

“Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” ” (Luke 10:38–42, ESV)

Here are some takeaway points from our discussion and the book by Alexander Strauch in his book Love or Die.

• Emblazon in my mind and maybe elsewhere so I am reminded these words:  One thing is necessary!
• Ask myself, “What is distracting me me from spending time at Jesus’ feet and listening to His words?
• Beware of the busyness of a barren life
• What practical steps can I take to fight the Martha syndrome?

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Self-control in a wired world

Josh Harris:

Yesterday I preached a sermon about self-control from Proverbs 25:28 that says, “A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.” I focused on the issue of media, the internet, and today’s new technologies. I don’t think I’m the only person who would identify this as an area where it’s easy to lack self-control. I think a lot of us we could rephrase the words of Proverbs 24:33-34 about the sluggard and say, “A little web surfing, a little Facebook, a little folding of the hands around the smart phone and spiritual poverty will come upon you like a robber.”

Listen online or download the sermon here.

Pastor Don Devries wrote up some application questions based on the sermon that I think are good:

1. What things are you tempted to do instead of what you should be doing? What do you fill your time with that crowds out activity of eternal value?

2. Have you feasted so much at the table of the world that your hunger for the Lord (Matthew 5:6) has diminished and your first love (Revelation 2:4) has grown cold? What can you do to rekindle that love and hunger?

3. What allowable and permissible pursuits have you allowed to rob you of your service to God’s church and His kingdom? What would change look like?

4. What things have crowded your life that keep you from fruitfulness (like time in God’s word, prayer, fellowship, evangelism, etc.)? What steps of repentance do you need to take to begin the process of change?

5. Paul writes in Ephesians 5:15-16a “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time…” How can you cultivate wisdom in your use of time? How can you put the eternal pursuits above the trivial?

Click hear to listen to the sermon.

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Keep them busy!

SATAN’S MEETING: (Read even if you’re busy)

Satan called a worldwide convention of demons.

In his opening address he said, “We can’t keep Christians from going to church.”

“We can’t keep them from reading their Bibles and knowing the truth.”

“We can’t even keep them from forming an intimate relationship with their Savior.”

“Once they gain that connection with Jesus, our power over them is broken.”

“So let them go to their churches; let them have their covered dish dinners, BUT steal their time, so they don’t have time to develop a relationship with Jesus Christ..”

“This is what I want you to do,” said the devil:

“Distract them from gaining hold of their Savior and maintaining that vital connection throughout their day!”

“How shall we do this?” his demons shouted.

“Keep them busy in the non-essentials of life and invent innumerable schemes to occupy their minds,” he answered.

“Tempt them to spend, spend, spend, and borrow, borrow, borrow.”

“Persuade the wives to go to work for long hours and the husbands to work 6-7 days each week, 10-12 hours a day, so they can afford their empty lifestyles.”

“Keep them from spending time with their children.”

“As their families fragment, soon, their homes will offer no escape from the pressures of work!”

“Over-stimulate their minds so that they cannot hear that still, small voice.”

“Entice them to play the radio or CD player whenever they drive.” To keep the TV, VCR, CDs, PDAs and their PCs going constantly in their home and see to it that every store and restaurant in the world plays non-biblical music constantly..”

“This will jam their minds and break that union with Christ.”

“Fill the coffee tables with magazines and newspapers.”

“Pound their minds with the news 24 hours a day.”

“Invade their driving moments with billboards and cell phones.”

“Flood their mailboxes with junk mail, mail order catalogs, sweepstakes, and every kind of newsletter and promotional offering free products, services and false hopes..”

“Keep skinny, beautiful models on the magazines and TV so their husbands will believe that outward beauty is what’s important, and they’ll become dissatisfied with their wives. “

“Keep the wives too tired to love their husbands at night.”

“Give them headaches too! “

“If they don’t give their husbands the love they need, they will begin to look elsewhere.”

“That will fragment their families quickly!”

“Give them Santa Claus to distract them from teaching their children the real meaning of Christmas.”

“Give them an Easter bunny so they won’t talk about His resurrection and power over sin and death.”

“Even in their recreation, let them be excessive.”

“Have them return from their recreation exhausted.”

“Keep them too busy to go out in nature and reflect on God’s creation. Send them to amusement parks, sporting events, plays, concerts, and movies instead.”

“Keep them busy, busy, busy!”

“And when they meet for spiritual fellowship, involve them in gossip and small talk so that they leave with troubled consciences.”

“Crowd their lives with so many good causes they have no time to seek power from Jesus.”

“Soon they will be working in their own strength, sacrificing their health and family for the good of the cause.”

“It will work!”

“It will work!”

It was quite a plan!

The demons went eagerly to their assignments causing Christians everywhere to get busier and more rushed, going here and there.

Having little time for their God or their families.

Having no time to tell others about the power of Jesus to change lives…

I guess the question is, has the devil been successful in his schemes?

You be the judge!!!!!

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On “time” (2)

Some more practical truths I am mulling from Mahaney, Purswell, and Harris on redeeming the time!

• Attack your week before it attacks you.  The best way to do this is by setting aside 30-60 minutes at the beginning of the week to plan your time.
• There are many pressing needs in the ministry but God didn’t call you to be the solution to all of them.
• Receive your priority list from God, not people.
• Know your God-given roles and goals!
• The strategic moments of each day that also provide the greatest temptation for time wasting is early morning and late evening hours.
• At the root of all discipline is the disciplined use of time.  Without this one, there are no other disciplines.
• Remember that God is the only one who gets His to-do list done every day. So don’t derive your joy from how productive you think you are.
• Busyness doesn’t mean I am diligent. Busyness doesn’t mean I am faithful.  Busyness does not mean I am fruitful.

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On “time!”

I listened today to a podcast for pastors about the use of time.  Here are some take-away points I gleaned which I want to think on and implement in my life.

• Time is a gift from God.  He is the creator and the dispenser of time.
• It is possible to be efficient and productive, but not redeeming the time
• Redeeming the time isn’t about “minutes”; it’s about seizing opportunities
• Most important priorities for pastors:  the maintenance of your soul, time devoted to family, time devoted to the church
• Be clear on your priorities.  Review your God-given priorities every week and then create appropriate weekly goals that accomplish those priorities

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Time matters

I learned a song in high school which I haven’t sung for years and yet the words and melody are still with me.

Only one life, so soon it will past;

Only what’s done for Christ will last;

Only once chance to do His will,

So live for Jesus every day

It’s the only life that pays

When you recall you have but one life–one life!

I was reminded of this as I read John Piper this morning,

The clock never stops ticking. Nothing but God is more persistent than the passing of time. You can’t stop it or slow it. It is sovereign over all human resistance. It will not be hindered or altered or made to cease. It is utterly oblivious to young and old, pain and pleasure, crying and laughing. Nothing, absolutely nothing, makes a difference to the unstoppable, unchangeable tick, tick, ticking of time. Anna Akhmatova the Russian poet, said that war and plague pass, but no one can cope with “the terror that is named the flight of time.”

I have an unusual habit when I go to bed. After Noel and I pray, I crawl into bed and situate myself on my left side, facing the red glow of the radio-alarm-clock numbers on the bedside table. I pull my hands up in front of me at about face level and wait for a few minutes in stillness, usually praying silently with gratitude for the wife who lies behind me, and for my children, and for the ministry God has given me. Then I take my right hand and curl my fingers around my left wrist and find my pulse. I watch the red minute number until it changes, and then I begin counting. One . . . two . . . three . . . When the number changes, and one minute has passed, I stop.

I began this peculiar habit out of the vain notion that, if my heart rate were very slow, from good exercise (or genes), it may mean that my heart is healthy and I will live long. Such is the silliness of human thought. The effect has been otherwise. Now, as I count the beats, it is not the rate that fixes my attention, but the succession. One beat, then another, then another, on through the night, about 21,000 times while I sleep. The effect of this little exercise is that I fall asleep most nights, lulled by the steady rhythm of my heart, and with a sober sense of my very fragile existence. Any one of those beats could be my last. I cannot will to make my heart beat one more time. If it stops, it stops. I and my time on earth are over. “If I die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take.”

Time is precious. We are fragile. Life is short. Eternity is long. [Enter today with]. . . a sense that every minute counts. O, to be a faithful steward of the breath God has given me. Three texts resound in my ears: 1) “Redeem the time” (Ephesians 5:16); 2) “It is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy” (1 Corinthians 4:2); 3) “His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me” (1 Corinthians 15:10).

Surely God means for our minutes on earth to count for something significant. Paul said, “In the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain” (Philippians 2:16). In the same way, I have good hope from the Lord that my “labor is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58)

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