Today I would like to focus on a particular subject that has been on my mind for the past 2 weeks, how we use our time. Is it a sin to waste time?! I would say that it is a sin to waste our time! Each moment is a gift from the Father to us His children and if we use it ill then we are sinning. I would then go on to say and confess that these past few days I have not used my time well. I spent it idly many a time in pursuits that do not get me closer to my Savior or encourage others in pursuit of the Lord. I have spent time worrying, watching movies, reading blogs, wasting time that could have been used in song writing or practicing music or studying or mentoring a friend or encouraging a friend or helping my family. I have neglected things the Lord wanted me to do to do these things that are time wasters. I am not saying that watching movies or reading blogs is wrong, but if you are doing it when you should be doing something the Lord wants you to do I believe that is definitely not fulfilling and is a sin.
Hello everyone!
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It is written by Harvey Newcomb and he was a minister/pastor in the 1840s, but the truth in this text is timeless! I believe this volume should be on every young woman's shelf! :)
First I will start out with some Scripture as I believe all of what I teach should be directly from Gods Word. Harvey does not use Scripture reference in this volume, but everything is definitely Biblical and focuses on how to please God and not man.Here are a few quotes and my thoughts on them from the book.
"When you entered into solemn covenant with the Lord, you consecrated your whole being to his service. Your time, then, is not your own, but the Lord's. If you waste it, then, or spend it unprofitably, you rob God; for it is one of the talents which he has intrusted to your as his steward. You are not at liberty even to employ it exclusively for yourself; but you must glorify God in the use of it, which you will do by employing it in the way that will be most beneficial to your whole being, and to your creatures." page 228 of The Ladys Guide to the Harmonious Development of Christian Character by Newcomb
"Hence we are exhorted to redeem, rescue, the time, as it flies." -Newcomb
WOW! what a challenge to us! Our time is not even our own. It also says this in the Lord's WORD! As it says in Romans 14:12, "So then each of us will give an account of himself to God." So we will have to give an account to God about how we have used our time. I will have to tell God about all the times I squandered my time using it for selfish gain and not for serving Him or glorifying Him. Such as when I have some spare time I will surf the internet and Facebook instead of reading the Bible, communing with my God in prayer, doing that college stuff the Lord wants me to do, help my mother or my father or my sister, persevere on the song the Lord wants me to write, practice piano or voice to be able to teach others someday how they can glorify God in music as worship. There are so many things that are so much more worthy of my time than doing idle things that will not matter when my life here on earth is finished. I would challenge you all ladies to reevaluate what takes up most of your time. Are you spending too much time doing something that does not glorify God?! Or maybe as I had been doing for the past year you were avoiding some things the Lord wanted you to do because you were scared of them?!
In James I was able to find a lot of wisdom about the use of our time. James 2:14" What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works?" If we have faith, but are not using our time to glorify God, if we are not showing our love for Christ with our time and what we do on a day to day basis, what sort of faith is that? Others will not come to Christ if they see us watching hours of television just as they do or surfing the internet for hours on end or texting more than we are praying! How can those who need Christ see Him if we are not using our time to serve Him and be set apart?
We should be good stewards of it and use it to glorify God and not ourselves. We NEED to share His WORD with others and become closer to our Savior who died on the cross so we would not have to. He loved us that much and we should love Him so much that we give our time to Him and let go of it.! Then by letting Him use our time to glorify His name we will find true fulfillment! Everything in this world is empty ladies, it has no value, only Christ Jesus gives us value and purpose!
These have been my thoughts the past few weeks as I strive to overcome my sin of wasting time. I will be posting probably 2 more parts of this series in the next few weeks. Lots of studying has been going into this and has been a great learning experience for me! I hope you all are encouraged by this series!
In Christ,
Rebecca
4 comments:
Great post Rebecca! I'm definitely trying my hardest to use my single years wisely at home and not waste any precious time the Lord has given me.
Being chronically ill has shown me what a gift time and work is, and now that I am improving so much, I'm really trying to make up for lost time!
Well, I better get off the computer and go do something productive;)
In Christ,
Ashleigh
Ashleigh, yes I am trying to use my single years to their best advantage as well! There are so many things I need and want to learn while still at home. :) Sometimes its hard to prioritize all those things, but I plan to write more about that in the next part of the series.
So glad the Lord has shown you how precious time is! What a blessing, I really enjoyed your post about gardening as well.
In Christ,
rebecca
You're such an amazing and encouraging woman.
This is a very very good post. It seems everything you have been posting is just what I need to be reading. <3 Thank you!
This really inspired me so much.
Blessings!
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