Faithful Steward Ministries and FSM Women's Outreach

In last Friday’s post, we looked at the Theology of work. Today, when I opened my Grace Gems file, the following information and study were there, and it seemed like an appropriate follow-up. Years ago, when I was in the Army, they made a BIG push to “time management”; they wanted all senior NCOs and most officers to carry a daily planner, and well, you get the drift. I hated it. Some bean counter would dream up that this job or that should take this much time or that, and we were ordered to plan or time accordingly. Never mind their 4-hour timed task really took 8 hours on a good day.

The Army never understood what God does. When a Christian plans their use of time for the Kingdom and God’s glory (Amen), they are actually engaging in task management. When we examine the quotes and scripture below, I think you will agree that God does not say you have 10 minutes to do this or that. He says this is your mission for the day: git-r-done. The “time” theme reference is about action, or maybe better put, inaction. God is calling Christians to action, and not time management.

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The Christian’s use of time!

(You will find it helpful to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)

Richard Baxter: “Be careful how you spend your time. To waste time is to squander a precious gift from God.”

Thomas Brooks: “Time, like a river, carries us swiftly toward eternity! Steer your soul well.”

“Your life is short, and your duties are many. Therefore, faint not, walk in the paths of holiness, and Heaven shall make amends for all!”

Jonathan Edwards: “Time is a talent given us by God, and He will call us to account for how we have spent it.”

“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.”

“Time is precious because it gives us opportunity of escaping everlasting misery, and of obtaining everlasting blessedness and glory.”

“Time is a thousand times more precious than money. For when it is gone, it cannot be purchased for money, nor redeemed by silver or gold.”

John Flavel: “Let us not trifle away our precious hours, for they are few and uncertain.”

“Time is a talent to be stewarded, not squandered.”

William Gurnall: “Each year spent without progress in grace, is a year wasted in vanity.”

John Owen: “Our days will flee away quickly, but eternity presses ever nearer!”

“The greatest spendthrifts in the world, are those who waste their time.”

“Time is not your own, but lent to you by God. See that you spend it for His glory.”

Thomas Watson: “Time is a most precious commodity, yet nothing is more wasted.”

George Whitefield: “How sweet is rest, after fatigue! How sweet will Heaven be, when our toilsome journey is ended.”

God’s Word:

Psalm 39:4-5 “Show me, O Lord, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is. You have made my days a mere handbreadth . . . Each man’s life is but a breath.”

Psalm 90:10 “The length of our days is seventy years–or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away.”

Psalm 90:12 “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”

Ephesians 5:15-16 “Be very careful, then, how you live–not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.”

Hebrews 10:37 “For, in just a very little while, He who is coming will come, and will not delay.”

James 4:14 “You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.”

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We would highly encourage every subscriber to read Jonathan Edwards‘ outstanding sermon, “The Preciousness of Time!“ It is, without doubt, the best thing ever written on this subject.