Redeeming the time.
At this time of the year, many news programmes and magazines look back at the past year, or even the past ten years, some even include articles by experts predicting what they expect to see happening in the year or years ahead.
Here we are, at the last Sunday of 2009. I wonder if we will make any better use of our time. In 2010 we have 365 days = 8,765 hours, when the New Year (2010) is over, will we be looking back with joy, or with regret? Will we be looking at the future with eagerness or with dread?
A. First of all, we must be very careful how we live because our time on this earth is limited.
“The days of our lives are seventy years; and if by reason of strength they are eighty years, yet their boast is only labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away” Psalm 90:10.
Now, I realize that for some young people, 70 or 80 years sounds like a long, long time. In fact, it only takes a few hours to tell the memories of a life time, that it why we repeat the same old stories.
B. The Psalmist also tells us to number our days so that we will develop a heart of wisdom.
If we knew right now the day of our death or better still the day of the Lord’s return, we would be wise in our time and where we spent our energy.
2ND POINT: MAKE THE MOST OF EVERY OPPORTUNITY.
Paul tells us that we must make “the most of every opportunity,” and he gives a reason, “because the days are evil.”
A. Jesus said that Satan is a robber and a thief, one of the things he tries to rob from us, is our time because time is a very precious possession.
Just think of the time wasted in sinning. Or think about all the time wasted worrying about the cost of the sins we have committed.
B. But it is not just sin that makes demands on our time. Sometimes even good things can make demands.
Jesus went to the home of Mary and Martha and Lazarus. He sat down to teach, and Mary was sitting at His feet just soaking in every word. Meanwhile, Martha was out in the kitchen preparing dinner. Now, you know the story. Martha gets upset because Mary is not in the kitchen, too. So she complains to Jesus, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me” Luke 10:40.
“Martha, Martha,” Jesus answered, “You are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her” Luke 10:41-42. Now was Martha committing a sin by fixing a meal in the kitchen? No, of course not! But here is the problem. She was so preoccupied with what she was doing that she did not realize that God was in her living room.
That is the same mistake that you and I make every day. We get so caught up in the here and now that we fail to deal with the eternal, the things that will last forever and forever. We do want to make the most of every opportunity, so what are we to do?
3RD POINT: UNDERSTAND WHAT THE LORD’S WILL IS.
“Understand what the will of the Lord is.”
Now what do you think God’s will is for you in this New Year? Do you think He wants your mind to be filled with worries and anxieties that you cannot think spiritual thoughts? Do you think He wants your calendar so crowded that you do not have time for the important things? What do you think God’s will is for you this year?
A. Let me make a couple of suggestions for you to consider. First of all, establish your priorities.
1. I am assuming that since you are in church this morning that you believe God should be a part of your life. But when you begin to establish priorities, you have to decide just where He stands in your life.
So ask yourself, “Who or what is most important in my life?” And I am hoping that your answer will be, “My relationship with God, through Jesus Christ, is most important to me.”
If so, then put that at the top of your list of priorities, and say, “This will affect my decisions, my arrangements, my relationship with others, and my whole outlook on life.”
2. You also need to schedule some definite time each day to pray and to read His Word. Pray for yourself and for your family and for people around you. Pray for the church, and for the missionaries. You will never know how much your prayers will mean to them. But you will be blessed as you grow in your faith and trust in the Lord!
3. You must also spend time with your family. No internet, no telephones, no interruptions, so you can just talk and share spend some time together. Spend time with your children, too. They are growing up ever so fast. These are precious moments. Do not let them get away. Make sure that you spend quality time with your children. Make sure that your family is very high on your lists of dos.
4. Now most of us have to work. And I think Christians ought to be good workers. When someone hires a Christian they ought to know they are getting someone who will give them an honest day’s work, and not cheat them. Because we are Christians we have a responsibility to the Lord to honour Him even in the marketplace.
B. And then, learn how to live today.
The two greatest enemies of time are regrets for things we did in the past, and anxiety about what will happen to us in the future. Many of us are living either in the past or in the future.
In fact, many of us are engaged in the little game of, “I wish it were.” “I wish it were next week,” or “I wish it were next month,” or “something.” Kids go to school and say, “Boy, I wish this day were over.” Someone said, “Life is what happens to you while you are making plans to do something else.”
CONCLUSION:
So have a happy new year! Lord, please help us to use every hour of this New Year the wisest way we can for you, and for your glory.
And during 2010 may you have:
Enough happiness to keep you sweet.
Enough trials to keep you strong.
Enough sorrow to keep you human.
Enough hope to keep you happy.
Enough failure to keep you humble.
Enough success to keep you eager.
Enough friends to give you comfort.
Enough wealth to meet your needs.
Enough enthusiasm to make you look forward to tomorrow.
Enough determination to make each day better than the day before.
