Managing Our Priorities

MATTHEW 25:14-30

SUBJECT: STEWARDSHIP OF TIME

THEME: Biblical Stewardship Is the Key to Overcoming Financial Indebtedness and Bondage.  As Christians we are to faithfully, wisely, and diligently manage our Lord’s affairs, privileges, opportunities, and the property he has placed in our managerial care. Today we will learn about where our priorities should be concerning the stewardship of our time.

INTRODUCTION:

Today we want to look at one more extremely important area of Stewardship: Time. We look to Matt. 25 and the Parable of the Talents to identify this and others areas of Stewardship.

Matthew 25:14-15 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. ¹⁵And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.

Matt 25:19, After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.

The lord in this parable along with these large sums of money also gave them time or opportunity to manage the money.  This indicated by the phrase in verse 19, “After a long time” which indicates the period that our Lord is away in Heaven and He has left us in charge of His assets.  One of the things He has left for us to manage is TIME.

LESSON:

I.  THE MANDATE TO REDEEM THE TIME

Ephes. 5:16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

This precious verse teaches us to be disciplined time managers as Christians.  We must buy up every opportunity to execute the will of the Lord.

        A. TIME IS NOT THE PROBLEM; WE ALL HAVE AN EQUAL MEASURE OF IT!

"I don't have enough time" is the constant complaint of our average church member today.  Even myself, as I walk into the pulpit, I think “If I had a little more time, I would have put together a dynamite sermon.”  With some of us, as we come home from a meeting, a long work day, an exercise, a deployment, only to find the children are already in bed, we say, "I wish I had more time for my family." As we notice the thickness developing around the waist area, we wish for time to exercise.  As we sense a distancing in our relationship with our spouse, we say to ourselves, “I'm going to have to spend more time building this relationship.” Time! Why is this such a problem for the pastor, and everyone else here today? (Source Unknown)

                1.  Is the Time Crunch Really Felt by All of Us? Of course. Everyone has discretionary time to use (Unstructured Schedule), and everyone has interruptions (Unpredictable Schedule), and everyone has too much to do in the amount of time they have (Unrelenting Schedule).  Most people have to deal with these problems.

               2.  So What Can Be Done? Does Time Have to Be the Believer's Enemy? Does time have to be a destructive force in the Christian's home? Or can it become a friend? No simple solutions will suffice. The following suggestions, however, will pave the way to a more effective use of time.  We must first, however, understand where our Time Priorities should be.

       B.  A FAILURE TO REDEEM THE TIME IS THE PROBLEM!

Ephes. 5:16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

             1.  Redeem Means to Buy Back or Buy up the Opportunities Afforded Us Through Wise Planning and Time Management.  Life is short, but we can make a meaningful impact on this world with the proper use of our time.  And since life is short take advantage of every second of life to maintain balance in your life and to address the priorities that God has established for you.

Time that is not managed is time that is wasted or spent for you by someone else.

           2.   Broken Promises Could Be Indicative of a Time Management Problem. 

If you find yourself always breaking promises to your children or your spouse or even if you struggle with being at work on time, then it could be an indication that you are not properly managing your time.  This could mean that you are not taking advantage of your opportunities to maintain time balance in your life.

Discipline yourself to manage your time. Structure your day as much as possible and weigh carefully the magnitude of the unpredictable “crises” that often come and demand your attention.  Again, we must first understand where our Time Priorities should be.

II.   THE GOOD STEWARD’S TIME PRIORITIES

Time is a commodity God gives equally to every man - yet the use (stewardship) of it varies greatly. Time is to be used wisely.

       A.  WE NEED TO SPEND QUIET TIME WITH OUR LORD

2 Tim. 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Philip. 4:6-7 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. ⁷And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Chapman's Rule Of Life

Dr. Wilbur Chapman had this which he called “My rule for Christian living”:

The rule that governs my life is this: anything that dims my vision of Christ, Or takes away my taste for Bible study, or cramps my prayer life, or makes Christian work difficult is wrong for me, and I must, as a Christian, turn away from it.”  This simple rule may help you find a safe road for your feet along life's road.

                  1.  Learn to Talk to God (Prayer)

                  2.  Learn to Listen to God (Devotional Bible Study)

                  3.  Learn to Tell Others About God (Witnessing)

       B.  WE NEED TO SPEND QUALITY TIME WITH OUR SPOUSE

             1.  Quality Time Involves Cleaving and Dwelling Together

Genesis 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

1 Peter 3:7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.  (Spiritually, Intellectually, Physically, Philosophically (Common Goals).)

            2.  Quality Time Involves Cooperation With Each Other

Proverbs 31:10-12 Who can find a virtuous (Strong in all Moral Qualities) woman? for her price is far above rubies. ¹¹The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil (Honest and Private Gain) (She Cooperate with him and is profitable to her husband). ¹²She will do him good and not evil (mischief) all the days of her life.

Proverbs 25:24 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling (Contentious or Fusing) woman and in a wide house.

               3.  Quality Time Involves Mutual Respect and Loving Consideration.

1 Cor. 7:3 Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence (Consideration/ Affection): and likewise also the wife unto the husband.

       C.  WE NEED TO SPEND QUALITY TIME WITH OUR CHILDREN.

              1.  Time Spent in the Word as a Family.

Psalm 78:3-6 Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. ⁴We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done. ⁵For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children: ⁶That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children:

               2.  Time Spent in Leading The Homes in Spiritual Matters. (Fathers not Mothers)

Genesis 18:19 For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.

                3.  Time Spent Training the Children for Real Life.

Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

       D.  WE NEED TO SPEND QUALITY TIME WITH OUR CHURCH

Have You Ever paid close attention to the “One Anothers” in scriptures?  They wonderfully instruct us concerning the Christian and his Fellowship/Relationship with his church family.

               1.  Realize That Together We Are One Body

Ephes. 4:25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.

Romans 12:5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

              2.  Realize Your Time and Fellowship Responsibilities as a Member of This Body

Romans 12:10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

Romans 12:16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.

Romans 13:8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.

Romans 14:13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.

Romans 14:19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

Romans 15:7 Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.

Romans 15:14 And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.

Romans 16:16 Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you.

Galatians 5:13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

Galatians 5:15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.

Galatians 5:26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

Ephes. 4:2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

Ephes. 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

Ephes. 5:21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

Col. 3:9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

       E.  WE NEED TO GIVE A HONEST DAYS WORK AT THE JOB/OFFICE

Ephes. 6:5-9 Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; ⁶Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; ⁷With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: ⁸Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free. ⁹And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.

CONCLUSION:                       TOO BUSY? STOP A MINUTE

"No time to read, no time to pray,

No time to serve the Lord today,

No time to teach in Sunday School,

No time - for life is very full.

No time to give a gospel tract,

No time to do a kindly act,

No time to seek as Jesus sought,

No time - for life is very short.

No time to call upon a friend,

No time, e'en though he's near the end,

No time to share another's care,

No time - for life is such a tear.

No time? How much is spent on self?

How much time on gaining worldly wealth?

How much on seeking place and ease?

Do you have time for only these?"

"Only one life, twill soon be Past, Only what's done for Christ will last."

As Christians we are to faithfully, wisely, and diligently manage our Lord’s affairs and property. Have I been faithful in managing the TIME my Lord has given to me?

If we are not careful, we could view God as being to harsh, and requiring too much from us.

If we are not careful, we will use excuses for not using our abilities and gifts to serve God.

If we are not careful, we will fail to place God’s Tithe where it belongs.

If we are not careful we could fail to manage our time and neglect a Prayer Time, Bible Study, Church Worship, and Time with the Family.

If Jesus called on us today to give account of our stewardship for him would he find us faithful, responsible, and diligent?

Or would our Lord find us negligent, and unfaithful?

Will you determine today to be faithful to every worship service?

Will you ask the lord to direct you in how he wants to use your time in your church?