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SCRIPTURE: EPHESIANS 5: 15 & 16a

Discover the importance of time management in the Christian life, prioritize spiritual activities, and learn principles from Scripture to use your time wisely.

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SCRIPTURE: EPHESIANS 5: 15 & 16a

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  1. EFFECTIVE CHRISTIAN TIME MANAGEMENT SCRIPTURE: EPHESIANS 5: 15 & 16a

  2. Objectives • 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

  3. 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?

  4. Lazy people have no time

  5. 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?

  6. 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

  7. 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?

  8. 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

  9. 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

  10. 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

  11. 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)

  12. 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?

  13. Fullness of time • 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)

  14. 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!” principles of time management

  15. 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

  16. IMPORTANT AND URGENT 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 Career, education & financial IMPORTANT BUT NOT URGENT Other relationships – friends etc NOT IMPORTANT BUT URGENT Latest gossip Fashion - appearance - Movies NOT IMPORTANT AND NOT URGENT Idleness (Proverbs 20:4-5) Loitering What do I do with my time?

  17. ILLUSTRATIONS • Fill the cup with as many of the items as possible: • 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?

  18. 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”

  19. Fundamentals of effective time management • On any task, draw an action plan “The journey from objectivesto success” • S PECIFIC • MEASURABLE • ATTAINABLE • RESOURCE ORIENTED • TIME BOUNDED! • Identify time available • “Teach me to number my days….”Psalm 90:12 • 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)

  20. Jesus' example • His priorities were: • Time with God • Dawn meetings with God • Time with disciples • 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). • Time for everything (planned!) – Remember Lazarus? It wasn’t time to go! • Ecclesiastes 8:6 – There is an appointed time and procedure for everything!

  21. GOD & OUR TIME • 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”

  22. Time Management Guidelines • Pray for wisdom (James 1:5) "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God” • Establish objectives; know where you want to go and what you want to do • Pick the right activities to accomplish goals • Schedule the activities and stick to the plan • 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

  23. 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.

  24. Procrastination…our worst enemy • 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”

  25. ON LOST TIME • Time lost can never be regained • Time is lost in smaller quantities • Make good use of time in between major activities • 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” • 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)

  26. Key Messages on Time Management • Give God time first; your best time of the day • Plan ahead • Prioritize your tasks • Urgent vs. Important • Avoid procrastination

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