SCRIPTURE: EPHESIANS 5: 15 & 16a
Objectives
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Understand the meaning & value of time
Recognize the need for time management
Difference between Urgent and Important
Dedicate time for spiritual activities
How you use your time reflects your true
priorities and your self-discipline
Memory Verse: “Redeeming the time because the
days are evil” Eph 5:16
What is time?
• A stretch of duration in which things happen
• Opportunity given from God to all humans
• A gift from God; up to us to use it wisely or unwisely
We will answer to God how we used our time
• Our life on earth is for a relatively short time, yet we
deal with time as if it is endless
• Time can be lost; can’t be stored or postponed
• There are no time-outs; time cannot be stopped
• Time must be spent…how do you spend your time?
Lazy people
have no time
Time is an opportunity
• Busy people always find time to do things
• If someone says they have no time to do
anything, they are actually lazy
• We must be active and find enough time to do
the things we need to do…what is important
• Feel sense of accomplishment; this is good for
us mentally, physically, and spiritually
• What is God’s will for our time?
Do you have enough time?
• Most people feel they don’t have enough time
• A recent survey showed that only 1 in 100
thinks they have enough time to get done
what they need to get done
• Time moves beyond our control and passes
at a predetermined rate no matter what we do
• Not about managing the clock, but ourselves
with respect to the clock
Living a godly life is an orderly life
• Involves proper use of time and resources
“All things must be done properly and in an
orderly manner” (1 Cor. 14:40)
“God is not a God of confusion.” (1 Cor. 14:33)
“For This reason I left you in Crete, that you
would set in order what remains.” (Titus 1:5)
How well did Jesus manage His time on Earth?
Jesus was a great time manager
John 17:4 “I glorified You on the earth,
having accomplished the work which You
have given Me to do.”
“It is finished” John 19:30
Jesus completed His Father’s plan perfectly
and in about 3 years time
Use your time wisely…
• God asks us to use our time wisely
“Therefore be careful how you walk, not as
unwise men but as wise, making the most of
your time, because the days are evil.” (Eph
5:15-16)
“Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward
outsiders, making the most of the
opportunity” (Col. 4:5)
• These verses refer to how we live our lives;
reflect wisdom and involves time
Time Management is biblically based
• Demands are being made upon our time -demands that often take us away from “kingdom
business”
Since notable pressure is being brought
against me to “spend my time” in non
beneficial ways, I must exercise great
wisdom in choosing how I will use my time in
order to accomplish my previously
determined, biblically based objectives.
• Time management is a divine mandate for us
Priorities & Time Management
• Life is filled with goals: short-term & long-term
• As Christians, we should set good goals based on guidance
from the Holy Spirit (Pray)
• Assign priorities and allocate time for each
• Good practice to pray and read the Bible before spending
time doing other things
• Pray in between doing things -> God bless your time and the
day
“To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under
heaven.” Ecc3:1-8
• God will judge our use of time:
“God shall judge the righteous and the wicked, for there shall be
a time there for every purpose and for every work” (Eccl.
3:17)
Tithes of our time
• Tithes not just for money, but everything
Malachi 3:7-10
• God gave us time as a gift; we must give back
• 10% of 24 hours = 2.4 hrs/day with God
– Prayers, meditation, reading the Bible
– Serving the church, needy, community, family
– Thinking about God; communicating with Him
How much time are we giving back to God?
Fullness of time
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Not good to rush through things
Think, study situation, then act
Be patient; consider all options
Use your time wisely after you plan and
set your goals and priorities
• Plan and manage your time efficiently
• Jesus came to the world in the fullness of
time (Gal 4:4)
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Planning – what? how?
Motivation – personal rewards
Directing - implementation
Monitoring – record keeping?
Controlling – eliminating unfavourable
variances, reinforcing favourable variances
Communication/ Coordination
“More men fail through lack of purpose than
lack of talent”
“The bad news is time flies. The good news
is you are the pilot!”
Steven Covey on Time Management –
7 Habits of Highly Effective People
• Instead of focusing on getting more done
(being efficient), we should focus on getting
more important things done (being effective).
Urgent vs. Important – know the difference
• An important task is one whose completion would
significantly contribute to key goals
• An urgent task appears to require immediate
attention
1. IMPORTANT AND URGENT
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Your relationship with God –
Matthew 6:33
Family (Spouse and Children)
- They will support or derail your
relationship with God
Ministry of God
- Your talent?
Health –Meals, Rest, Exercise,
Pleasure
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Career, education & financial
IMPORTANT BUT NOT
URGENT
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• NOT IMPORTANT BUT
URGENT
Other relationships – friends etc
 Latest gossip
 Fashion
- appearance
- Movies
NOT IMPORTANT AND NOT
URGENT
 Idleness (Proverbs 20:4-5)
 Loitering
ILLUSTRATIONS
• Fill the cup with as many of the items as possible:
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Big rocks
Marbles
Sugar
Water
• What would be the best order to maximize space
• Think of the symbolism and meaning behind this
activity; how does it relate to our lives?
ILLUSTRATIONS
• THE BIG ROCKS
– If you don’t put the big rocks in first, you’ll never get
them in at all. True?
– To be living as “wise-men” we need to schedule
tasks and put “important & urgent first”
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On any task, draw an action plan
“The journey from objectives to success”
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S PECIFIC
MEASURABLE
ATTAINABLE
RESOURCE ORIENTED
TIME BOUNDED!
Identify time available
– “Teach me to number my days….”Psalm 90:12
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Insert “normal wastage”, contingency time for unpredictable interruptions
Identify time wasting activities AND weed them out!
Know when you’re most productive (morning, afternoon, evening)
Jesus' example
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His priorities were:
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3.
Time with God
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Dawn meetings with God
Time with disciples
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Walking, eating, talking, eating, going to weddings, going to the synagogue to worship
Time for ministry – preaching, teaching, healing (meeting the needs of “dying souls).
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Time for everything (planned!) – Remember Lazarus? It wasn’t time to go!
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Ecclesiastes 8:6 – There is an appointed time and procedure for everything!
• God first in the day
“I have so much to do today, I couldn’t possibly do it all without
three hours of prayer” – Martin Luther.
Psalm 90:17
The Lord…Favour…Rest Upon…Establish…Work of our hands
• Think of the ministry of Christ?
• plan on the conduct of your God given duties
• Romans 8:28
• Punctuality
– sign of honour & relevance
– Numbers 9 (Especially verse 3) on timeliness
“The surest way to be late is to have plenty of time”
Time Management Guidelines
1. Pray for wisdom (James 1:5)
"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God”
2. Establish objectives; know where you want to go and
what you want to do
3. Pick the right activities to accomplish goals
4. Schedule the activities and stick to the plan
5. Avoid time wasters and procrastinating
Tasks/work will expand to fill the time available
If you don’t control your time; others will control it for you
Useful tips
1. In every activity you do, ask yourself, "Why am I
doing this? Is it getting me closer to my
objectives?"
2. Force yourself to make decisions. Set deadlines
for decisions if more thinking is needed.
3. Learn to say "no" to others and to yourself. Don't
get involved in activities you don't have time to
do.
4. Maintain a good, overall filing system. It will
save a lot of time in looking for misplaced items.
5. Use your time twice. Listen to tapes while doing
mechanical work or when traveling.
Procrastination…our worst enemy
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Makes you be last minute with things
Can’t handle the unknown or unexpected
Don’t account for review or improving things
Dangerous to spiritual life; if delay
repentance, could lose eternal life
Luke 15:18 – Prodigal son “I will rise and go
to my Father”
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Time lost can never be regained
Time is lost in smaller quantities
Make good use of time in between major activities
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Procrastination is a thief of time
“A Wiseman does at once, what a fool does at last”
“A year from now, you will wish you had started”
“THE BEST TIME IS NOW”
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Don’t waste other’s time because time is wealth
(Exodus 21:18 -20) – opportunity cost!
“Wait till you’ve missed your flight by 5 minutes”
We will account for the use of every moment of time
(Ecclesiastes 12: 13-14)
Key Messages on Time Management
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Give God time first; your best time of the day
Plan ahead
Prioritize your tasks
Urgent vs. Important
Avoid procrastination