Time and Using It Well

When it comes to our use of time, let's consider the words of the Apostle Paul.

"Be careful then how you live - not as unwise but as wise - redeeming the time
because the days are evil." - Ephesians 5:15-16

What does it look like to "redeem the time"?  In the context of Ephesians 5, Paul is reminding the followers of Christ what they were like before they came to know Jesus.  In light of that past form of life, we are called to live an even more Christ-centered, more Kingdom-directed life.  So are we doing that?  Am I doing that?  What things am I spending time on now that have no eternal value?  Whenever I think of this idea of wasting time, Ecclesiastes comes to mind.  The Teacher (the author of the book) tells us that all kinds of activities are meaningless - one of them is building gardens.  I've always been struck by the idea that investing significant amounts of time in landscaping seems to be frowned upon by The Teacher.  But why? 

I suppose that it is at least in part because the things that are put into the ground - the plants, the flowers, etc. - and the ponds and retaining walls that are built - they all pass away.  Is this too bold - is it a waste to plant a garden?  Well, here is the question - does it have any eternal value?  Ultimately, we find that only two things will pass from here into eternity: God's Word and people.  Are these the things I invest my time in, or do I look like a sanitized version of everyone else around me?  Certain things matter - not my apartment, not my car, not my technology, not my collection of 'things' (whatever these 'things' might be). What matters is people.  What matters is telling people about the Gospel.  Is your life so slanted in that way that you look strange to people around you?  If so, I would guess that the Teacher would say, "That, my friend is meaningful."

- tC

Time: From Theory to Introspection

(digitalart - freedigitalphotos.net)

With a few simple questions, we can begin to analyze how we use our time and then begin to get a sense if our time is being used in the most worshipful way.  Here are the core questions for us to ponder:
- Do I spend most of my time with things or people?
- Am I able to give my full attention to people when I am with them, or am I distracted?
- Do I spend any time alone with  God?  If so - how much?
- Do I have any form of Sabbath (day of rest) in my life?
- When I have nothing to officially do, am I immediately pulling out my phone or smart phone?
- What would I do if I had a full day with nothing to do - how would I spend that time?

Think on these questions and see where your thoughts go.
- tC

Thinking about Eternity: Time in Perspective

Some thoughts from Francis Chan to get us to think about how we use our time.



- tC

Slowing Down to Take Notice

It's been cooler here in New Hampshire over the last few days, reminding me that the fall is not far off.  As I walked with my daughter the other evening, I noticed this leaf on the ground.  I noted it's color and beauty, the subtlety of the green veins within the red heart, and so I stopped to pick it up.  My first thought was, "And some say this all happened by chance."  Without digressing into an entire conversation on evolution and creationism, just note with me that when we take the time to reflect and keenly observe nature, God is evident.  Paul emphasizes this in Romans 1and says that the very character of our Creator is evident in all that He has made.

But don't miss the other piece of the equation which is that unless we take time to notice the intricacy and also the grandeur of nature, we will miss seeing God. 

It's certainly cliche to say, "Stop and smell the roses", but let me ask you this: have you paused in the last week or even month to observe the created world? Someone is waiting for you to take the time and notice of His work.

- tC

Using Time Well

We are too busy.
We have no margin in our lives.

(Vichi81 - FreeDigitalPhotos.net)

Why?

Because we think too highly of ourselves.
Because we are insecure in our identities.
Because we don't know how to choose pleasure well.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, when I talk to friends and co-workers, the comment I hear so often when I ask, "How are you?" is "Busy." One reason we are so busy because we think too highly of ourselves. Let me explain.

When I fill my life and work with many activities it is often because I want to produce more. I think, "If I can run this extra program, produce more,and build a bigger XYZ, then I'll have arrived", and I fail to realize how little I am in the world.

Consider this fact: The vast majority of us will be forgotten within the next 100 years. Humbling indeed.

Another way in which we think too highly of ourselves is that we think we can do more than we can. When I first began in ministry, I thought that I could mentor dozens of college students. It quickly became clear to me that if Christ chose to mentor 12, I might be wise to not attempt more than that. When I think I can do more than I can, I often become overwhelmed with tasks and people become projects.

This is not to say that hard work is to be shunned - it isn't. It is to challenge us with this question: Am I so busy because I think I can do more than I really can, and does that assumed 'production-capability' come from me thinking of myself more highly than I should?  Have I turned people I love, people with whom I work, into projects instead of image-bearers of the Creator?

More to come...

- tC

Godly Communication: A Biblical Perspective Applied

This is the latest message from Tim at BTGM. It was given at a men's dinner in May 2011 and focused on the topic of how to communicate in a Christ-centered, God-honoring way. You can also download it as an MP3 at www.btgm.libsyn.com/webpage.

Challenge #1 - Time

(Winnond - FreeDigitalPhotos.net)

Think of  the average greeting you share with a person you pass in the office or perhaps on the street.  It usually goes something like this: "Hey, how are you?"  "Good - you?"  "Doing well, thanks."  And on you go.  But if you take a moment to stop and interact, I find one of the most common words to pop up in the conversation is busy.

"How's life?" 
"Oh, really busy." 
"Yeah, I hear ya'." 

We often feel busy because we don't know how to handle our time, and I believe this might be the greatest challenge to the Christian faith today.  Consider the consequences:

- How many followers of Christ struggle with having any sort of devotional life (reading, prayer, reflection, etc.) because they feel like they can't make the time?
- How many church attendees arrive late and feel the need to rush out after the service is over because of other obligations?
- How many youth are so involved in sports and other extra-curricular activities that they can't make it to a weekly youth group meeting, a retreat or camp, or even to church because they have games and practices all throughout the week?
- How many parents are working well over 40 hours a week in order to pay the bills and give their families a  "nice life"?

On the other side of our harried lives, consider Jesus in Mark 1.  After a day of healing and performing many signs and wonders, Jesus finds (or makes) time to go off early in the morning in solitude and commune with His Father in Heaven.  In the future posts, we will look at a biblical model of how to handle time but for today, let us merely consider how busy we are and if our lack of time management has been impacting our spiritual lives.

- tC