Tag: steward

Time

Maddox Wilson

As we end one year and begin another we tend to think about how we have spent our time. My time management is questionable at times. I do a lot of things last minute, especially school work–mainly geometry. It is a reminder that we must use the time we have been given. It is more valuable than money. Money can be made again but time once lost, is gone forever. We must be intentional with how we spend our limited time. James 4:14 says “Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? Even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.”

Time is a gift. We make time for school, work, sports, video games, friends, and family. Are we making time for the most important things in life? How many minutes a day do we spend studying God’s word? For me, I could be doing better. It’s easy to let minutes wasted on my computer turn into hours.

How do we get a better understanding of how to best use our time? Matthew 22:37 says, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” To do that we must

  1. Put God first in our life. Romans 6:13 says, “Give yourselves to God, surrender your whole being to him to be used for righteous purposes.” So, keep our priorities straight. Matthew 6:33 tells us, “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given unto you.” Seek him above all other things in our daily life.
  2. If the axe is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed but wisdom brings success” (Ecclesiastes 10:10). We must use our time to strengthen our knowledge of God’s word. We need to work smarter in managing our time and completing tasks. Add our Bible study to our TO DO list. Put it at the top until it becomes a habit.
  3. Make time spent on important things into a goal. Proverbs 16:9 says, “A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” At school they tell us to make SMART goals. We can use this in our Bible study life too. Specific goal, Measurable goal (how many minutes to read) , Action oriented- what am I doing to meet this time goal, Realistic- remember my actual attention span, and Timely- actually make progress. Share your goal with a friend and help each other.
  4. Finally understand the limit of the time we are given. We are certainly not promised tomorrow (even if a teenager). Ephesians 5:15-17 tells us, “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” Are my time choices bringing me closer to the relationship?

I need to have with God. James 4:14 asks, “Why you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.”

The way you spend your time has eternal consequences. Maybe you have not made the best choices on how you spend your time. Maybe you need to make the most important decision of your time here on earth. If you haven’t made the decision to be baptized now is the perfect time. Or if you have any other need there is no better time than the present.

Maddox Wilson is one of two young men speaking on the Equipped Workshop, April 18-21, 2024, at the Lehman Avenue church of Christ.

Who Is The Greatest?

Neal Pollard

  • The preacher who dazzles with his insight, personality, influence, popularity, or following?
  • The teacher who is the students’ favorite?
  • The member who is “balling” (making a lot of money and having a lot of success in business)?
  • The family with the biggest house and nicest automobiles?
  • The one with the best academic pedigree, with the proverbial alphabet soup behind their name?
  • The folks who are best known and most influential in our community?
  • The ones who are incredibly fit and attractive?
  • The greatest debater, philosopher, and reasoner we know?
  • The elder who is most successful in his career?
  • One who seems to combine a great many or even all of these attributes?

It could be one of these individuals, but despite and not because of the specifics just mentioned. But, we so easily fall into the trap that causes us to think that those criteria are what make one greatest.  Such can cause us to vest blind trust in them or put them in a higher place than is right. Worse, we can try to be motivated to define and promote ourselves as greatest through these means.

The tendency is so fundamental. Jesus warned against it in places like Matthew 20:25-28 and 23:12. His disciples, like James (4:6-10), Peter (1 Pet. 3:8; 5:5-6), Paul (2 Cor. 10:12-18), Jude (16), and the rest, at least implicitly, address the same trap. We all fight the desire to be seen so as to be admired. We may do so through our marriages, our children’s accomplishments, our economic status, our apparent importance, our having it all together, our professional prowess, or any other asset we feel responsible for having. If we use these things to place ourselves above and/or push others below, we are disqualifying ourselves for greatness in the only way that matters—God’s way. False modesty isn’t the answer, either.

We must look at ourselves as dependent creatures. It’s all His and without Him we’d have nothing!
We must look at ourselves as devoted stewards. It’s all His and He expects us to use it wisely, on His behalf!
We must look at ourselves as divine instruments. It’s all His and He works through us to do His will!
We must look at ourselves as dutiful slaves. It’s all His and so are we, living and serving at and for His pleasure!

The warning and disclaimer is that this transformation must happen at heart-level, rooting out thoughts and attitudes that, while fleshly, are so easy to embrace. If the weeds of pride aren’t dislodged from deep within, this effort will prove impossible. But, if it could not be done, God would not have spent so much time instructing us to live and walk by the Spirit rather than by the desires of the flesh and mind. It is the old song, “None of self and all of Thee.” To the degree we adorn that mindset and make that transformation, to that degree we will achieve greatness God’s way!

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