No Time to Waste

Got a minute—or five? I believe these biblical time management principles will be worth every minute.

God gave us our time—every second of it. It’s a great blessing and a big responsibility.

We realize that God looks at time differently than we do. He is not limited by it; He lives outside of it in something called eternity that we can’t really comprehend yet.

But God created time, and He gave it to us for a purpose. He gave us these temporary lives to prepare for permanent life as children in His family. The apostle Peter compared our lives to a tent—a temporary place to live. But while living in this tent, we are given the chance to help build the most magnificent temple!

In order to prepare for the Kingdom of God, we need to use the time management techniques of the One who created time! We have to learn to make decisions and think the way He decides and thinks. We need these things because if we aren’t managing our time, our time is ruling us and our lives may even be out of control.

Thankfully God gave us these three simple (but not easy) time management techniques to help us.

1. Do the most important things first

This is another way of saying set the right priorities. We want our priorities to be the same priorities God has. Jesus Christ said: “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things [the needs of our lives] shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:33).

Seeking first the Kingdom of God is an overall mind-set, but it does affect very specific aspects of how we use our time. If we are seeking first God’s Kingdom, we will be praying for His Kingdom every day. We will be studying the Bible to see how to prepare for and hasten that day.

And we will be seeking His righteousness. In Romans 13:9-10 the apostle Paul lists the last five of the Ten Commandments, explaining that the law of God defines how to love our neighbor. Love fulfills the law. So in Romans 13:11 Paul says: “And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.”

We are to “do this”—to obey God’s law of love. Psalm 119:172 tell us that God’s commandments are righteousness. So when we seek first God’s righteousness, we are seeking first God’s commandments and His way of love. These all describe the same thing.

Loving actions and choices should be our priority. We should weigh every thought and action and ask: Is this showing love to God and love to neighbor? This is always important, but Paul reminds us that our salvation is nearer now! It is nearer than the day we began to understand God’s truth, nearer than when we were baptized. Jesus Christ’s return is surely approaching, and besides that, each of us doesn’t know how much time we have left in our physical lives. God’s Kingdom and His righteousness must take priority.

2. Do everything in its time

In Ecclesiastes 3 wise King Solomon talks about all the things that life can and will throw at us. In verse 1 he wrote: “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.”

There is a time for everything, and we have to handle everything in its time. If a test or a race is coming up, we have to prepare beforehand. We have to plan and prepare for God’s festivals before they come. Many things in life have deadlines, and it does no good to do them after the deadline. We have to do everything in its time.

This also reminds us to have balance in life. God’s way of life addresses every aspect of life—our spiritual life, our work, our education, our health and our social life. God wants us to plan for times to rejoice and enjoy life, while getting all the required things done as well.

3. Make the most of the time

Paul wrote: “Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, making the most of the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:15-16, New Revised Standard Version).

Adam Clarke explained verse 16 this way in his commentary, “Buying up those moments which others seem to throw away.”

We are to value the time given to us—to use the opportunities we are given to do God’s work and do good for others.

How do we do this? Here are a few examples: I know a person who always carries cards to write a get-well card or card of encouragement or letter to family. What about the time we have to spend in waiting rooms or at airports? Take something along to read in those spare moments. Or use the time for silent prayer or meditation—or write a card. They are much appreciated!

Our time is our life, and how we use it is what prepares us to be in God’s Kingdom. Now is the time to apply these biblical time management principles.

For more biblical insight and motivation, see “Waste It Wisely.”

Mike Bennett is the editorial content manager for Life, Hope & Truth. He and his wife, Becky, attend the Dallas, Texas, congregation of the Church of God, a Worldwide Association.