STEWARDSHIP: Taking Care of Time
HEALTHY HABITS • Sermon • Submitted
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· 2 viewsSermon 3 in 2022 habit of stewardship series.
Notes
Transcript
Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk—not as unwise people but as wise—making the most of the time, because the days are evil.
INTRO—
INTRO—
[[Walk Up Vid: The Winans - “It’s Time”]]
We are called in Scripture to “make the most of the time”...
ἐξαγοράζω (exagorazo): make the most; redeem; make good use of
καιρός (kairos): time; ‘day;’ season; opportunity
…& so, each and every season of our lives
… “opportunists”?
**To rightly steward our time (lives), we must...
Recognize that “The Days are Evil”
Recognize that “The Days are Evil”
Ephesians 5.16 “making the most of the time, because the days are evil.”
Ephesians 5.15 “Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk—not as unwise people but as wise—”
2 Timothy 4.1-5 “I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and because of his appearing and his kingdom: Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage with great patience and teaching. For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, will multiply teachers for themselves because they have an itch to hear what they want to hear. They will turn away from hearing the truth and will turn aside to myths. But as for you, exercise self-control in everything, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”
Understand that Time is Short and is Passing
Understand that Time is Short and is Passing
James 4.14 “Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring—what your life will be! For you are like vapor that appears for a little while, then vanishes.”
Matthew 6.26-30 “Consider the birds of the sky: They don’t sow or reap or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they? Can any of you add one moment to his life span by worrying? And why do you worry about clothes? Observe how the wildflowers of the field grow: They don’t labor or spin thread. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was adorned like one of these. If that’s how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and thrown into the furnace tomorrow, won’t he do much more for you—you of little faith?”
Live as Those Who are Accountable to God for Our Time
Live as Those Who are Accountable to God for Our Time
Romans 14.12 “So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.”
Romans 14.7-9 “For none of us lives for himself, and no one dies for himself. If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. Christ died and returned to life for this: that he might be Lord over both the dead and the living.”
1 Corinthians 3.10-15 “According to God’s grace that was given to me, I have laid a foundation as a skilled master builder, and another builds on it. But each one is to be careful how he builds on it. For no one can lay any foundation other than what has been laid down. That foundation is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or straw, each one’s work will become obvious. For the day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire; the fire will test the quality of each one’s work. If anyone’s work that he has built survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will experience loss, but he himself will be saved—but only as through fire.”
Remember that Time is Too Easily Lost and Cannot be Regained
Remember that Time is Too Easily Lost and Cannot be Regained
Proverbs 6.9-11 “How long will you stay in bed, you slacker? When will you get up from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the arms to rest, and your poverty will come like a robber, your need, like a bandit.”
Proverbs 26.14 “A door turns on its hinges, and a slacker, on his bed.”
Matthew 6.25 ““Therefore I tell you: Don’t worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothing?”
CONCL—
CONCL—
A couple of thoughts...
Does wise use of our time negate recreation and rest?
NO…Jesus rested. We are encouraged to ‘sabbath.’
A significant challenge, DON’T WASTE YOUR LIFE...
family…job…community…retirement… [John Piper!]
“There was a rich man who would dress in purple and fine linen, feasting lavishly every day. But a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, was lying at his gate. He longed to be filled with what fell from the rich man’s table, but instead the dogs would come and lick his sores. One day the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. And being in torment in Hades, he looked up and saw Abraham a long way off, with Lazarus at his side. ‘Father Abraham!’ he called out, ‘Have mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this flame!’ “ ‘Son,’ Abraham said, ‘remember that during your life you received your good things, just as Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here, while you are in agony. Besides all this, a great chasm has been fixed between us and you, so that those who want to pass over from here to you cannot; neither can those from there cross over to us.’ “ ‘Father,’ he said, ‘then I beg you to send him to my father’s house—because I have five brothers—to warn them, so that they won’t also come to this place of torment.’ “But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.’ “ ‘No, father Abraham,’ he said. ‘But if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ “But he told him, ‘If they don’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be persuaded if someone rises from the dead.’ ”
So…are you ready for eternity?
So…what are you doing to help others be ready?
he again specifies a certain day—today. He specified this speaking through David after such a long time: Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.