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 Religion
I Just Don't Have Time! By Pastor Phillip Howle web posted December 9, 2009 RELIGION – But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. Galatians 4:4-5 Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk--not as unwise people but as wise-- (16) making the most of the time, because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:15-16 It is Christmas in case you did not know it. My boys Cason and Luke actually got to play in the “snow” after the parade on Sunday. I find that with Christmas comes a tight schedule and tighter pants due to the endless eating. But I also have found that here lately there has been a constant refrain coming from my mouth, and it is not “Merry Christmas.” It is “I just don’t have time” or “I am just too busy.” I am tired of saying these things. I have thought about the implication of these statements and it is that I am a helpless victim of time. It is as if big mean “TIME” is attacking poor helpless Philip. This is simply not the case. I was convicted about this as I read Ted Engstrom write “Time in itself is really not the problem, but people who use it are. People who excuse their failures by saying, “I don’t have time” really are admitting to mismanagement of time. How often we hear, “I wish I knew how to manage my time better.” Rarely do we hear, “I wish I knew how to manage myself better,” but that’s really what it comes down to. (The Making of a Christian Leader, p. 101.) So I realized that time was not the problem, but I was. I tell you in all my problems I find that I am the common denominator. I bet you are too. So since time was not the enemy it made curious as to what time actually is. Time is a gift from God. An extremely valuable gift from God. That means to waste time is to throw away a precious gift from God. Donald Whitney says “Time appears to be so plentiful that losing much of it seems inconsequential…but if people threw away their money as thoughtlessly as they throw away their time, we would think them insane. Yet time is infinitely more precious than money because money can’t buy time…The more scarce something is, the more valuable it is. Gold and diamonds would be worthless if you could pick them up like pebbles on the side of the road. Time would not be so precious if we never died. But since we are never more than a breath away from eternity, the way we use our time has eternal significance.” (Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life, p. 137-138.) Are you feeling convicted yet? I desire be like Paul when I am facing death and be able to honestly say as he did in 2 Timothy 4:6-8 “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time for my departure is close. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. In the future, there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that day...” How can we do this? Here is the paradox: we can do more by doing less. Look at the earthly life of Jesus. It was a life of seeming frenetic activity. But, the Gospels show Jesus regularly and daily taking time out to be alone in prayer (See Luke 4:42, 5:16, 6:12, Mark 1:35.6:45-46.) How does a man who did as much as Jesus did in three years find time to pray? I mean he accomplished more in His three year ministry than anyone else has ever come close to. I think Jesus knew His needs and limitations. Jesus knew that as a man, He could not work twenty-four hours a day seven days a week – and neither can we. Jesus knew His Father would give Him the time to accomplish all that He desired for Him. So, through prayer and connection to God, Jesus got it done. I think we can see from the life of Jesus that we always have time to do what God wants us to do. So, when I don’t have time to do what needs to get done, then I am probably doing some things that God does not want me to do. What do you think right now you are doing that you should not be doing? It is it too much TV, too much Facebook, too much sports, too much sleep, too much eating, too much Edgefield Daily? Maybe it is not enough time spent in service to others, time in God’s Word, time in prayer, time in church, time with your spouse or kids? What is it? Be honest because God has given us a gift of 86,400 seconds today. What are going to do that is amazingly worth while with all these seconds today? What will you accomplish today that you are proud of? What will you do that will glorify God and impress others around you by God’s greatness? Will you treasure the gift of time or will you waste it? Resolving To Quit Whining About Not Having Enough Time, Pastor Phillip © Copyright 2009
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