Wasted Time
As I reflect on the day that just passed, I wonder just where did it go? That precious thing called time that we misuse on a daily basis, as we wish half our lives away just watching the clock, is it time to go home yet seems to be the biggest thief of my time. Oh come on you watch the clock too as you are at work waiting for the minute you can head home. Yesterday I was off, so of course time went to warp speed as I visited with my mom, nieces and their precious new babies Zella and Andy.
I wonder how God feels about us wasting so much of time here on earth? How would He like to see you spending your time? There are many differences in the world, but one thing we all have in common is the same amount of time each day. God has allotted twenty-four hours to each one of us. It is not uncommon to hear comments like, “There just isn’t enough time in a day to do everything I need to do.” “I just don’t know where the time goes.” “I’ll try to find time, but I’m hard pressed for time at the present.” Life with all its demands is far too busy.
The bible tells us to not waste time, especially when it's used to worry.
Matthew 6:31-33 KJV
31Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
We need to examine our lives to see where we are wasting our time that could be used to
develop our relationship with God. We can see our hearts when we take a long look at where we been expending our time. We need to recognize our need of God's power and
righteousness to help Us organize our lives around spiritual things and religious God fearing people. Do not waste time with those that do not accept God as their Father. Pray for them continually that they may also quit wasting time and give their lives over to our Heavenly Father. When we quit worrying and wasting time we will see that God will fulfill all our needs.
Deuteronomy 33:25 Thy shoes [shall be] iron and brass; and as thy days, [so shall] thy strength [be].
Jesus teaches us to quit worrying and trust in Him. God is the author of time and the performer of miracles. If we would look to the wisdom found in His Word, and apply it, we can release His miracle working power in our lives so as to enable us to make the most of our time. God speaks of time in the bible on several occasions: Psalm 90:12
12 So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom.
Isaiah 49:4 KJV
4Then I said, I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain: yet surely my judgment is with the LORD, and my work with my God.
Are you wasting or investing the time God has given you?
Ecclesiastes 11:4-6 KJV
4He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.
If you sit around and watch time pass you are going to miss out on what God has for you.
There are no “rewind” or “delete” buttons in our life. The life we live, minute by minute, remains with us. It cannot be changed. However, if we messed it up, it can be forgiven and forgotten by God. Even as christians we have to make better use of our time. Serving God should come first and foremost in our lives. Taking TIME for GOD is curtail in being a good Stewart.
Lord, I realize that you love me just the way I am, and only you can take a broken life and make it brand new. Only you can provide the right direction. From this day on, I may trip and fall occasionally, but I’ll immediately reach out for Your hand and get back up and follow You.” Lord, please direct me in using my time constructively and with my heart focused on you. Anytime I find myself reflecting on the past and wishing I could change things please keep me online with the present, and help me to not worry about tomorrow, for you have not promised me that. I thank you for this present time. I lift you ip Father and give all the glory to you. Amen!
Working with the Lord daily and seeing what is in the shadows to my life and others brings us to daily word and understanding of the need to have God in our lives.
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Saturday, January 7, 2012
“Selfishness or Selfish less”
In the Lords work there is no room for selfishness. In my daily walk and studies I have found that you must set aside your own wants and desires for the interest of others in need. It doesn’t matter what that need is, whether it is prayer, physical or financial help.
Psalm 119:36 (KJV) 36Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.
James 3:16-17 (KJV) 16For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. 17But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
Most of the sins we commit have somewhere down deep underneath too great a concern for ourselves and too little concern for others. In the teachings of Christ we come to the very root of this matter of selfishness. A good example of this is when Jesus speaks. Do you remember in the Bible the story of the rich young ruler: “And as he was going forth into the way, there ran one to him, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me, good? None is good save one, even God. Thou knowest the commandments, do not kill, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not bear false witness, do not defraud, Honor thy father and mother. Teacher, all these things have I observed from my youth. And Jesus looking upon him loved him, and said unto him, one thing thou lackest: go, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shall have treasure in heaven: and come follow me. But his countenance fell at the saying, and he went away sorrowful: for he was one that had great possessions.” (Mark 10:17-22).
This ruler loved his material possessions more than he loved the possibility of being eternally saved. That is self-centeredness of a kind which is very common in our world today. How many of you would go and sell everything to know that you one day would have a home in Heaven beside God? That’s a difficult question for most all of us; we have fear of the unknown.
Selfishness is the way of the world. The world’s way is dog eat dog, the strong overpower the weak. Christ taught his disciples to turn the other cheek. He was willing to be crucified rather than destroy his enemies even though he could have called twelve legions of angels to do so. It wasn’t Christ’s way. Look at those people who crucified him. Look at his enemies. They selfishly killed him to get him out of their way. For the moment they won the battle, but it was only for the moment. As time has come and gone it has become ever more obvious that Christ really won the hearts of the people. His is the permanent victory. Selfishness never makes friends. Selfishness never brings happiness. When Jesus came into the world unselfishly to give himself for man he was demonstrating that the best way is the selfless way of serving others. Love one another. Christ still demands, “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me. For whosoever would save his life shall lose it, and whosoever shall lose his life for my sake shall find it.”
When was the last time you stepped out of this act and reached out to someone, maybe giving up a day off of resting, to go do something nice for someone else? Let me tell you, what a feeling of pure joy in your heart you will receive. Selfishness leads us to do whatever it takes to look out for number one—even if it means lying to God. We will lie, pout, manipulate someone, distort the truth—anything to get our own way. God doesn’t honor a life like that. It doesn’t please him. Because when He comes into our lives He radically changes our hearts where there is a love for people and a lesser love for things.
2 Corinthians 5:15 (KJV) 15And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
There was no tomb that could keep Him, for HE WOULD RISE from the dead, His selfless act gives us hope for eternal salvation, for on that cross He showed the most selfless act there is, and that is giving His life for us.
The definition of selfishness is acting or thinking of one’s own well-being alone. The opposite of selfishness is “JESUS CHRIST”.
As Jesus said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me" (Luke 9:23).
If you feel you are ready to accept Christ into your life you can do so right now by telling God you are sorry for your past mistakes, putting your trust in Him and asking Him to make you into the person He created you to be. It is as simple as saying this short prayer: Lord Jesus, I want to know you personally. Thank You for dying on the cross for my sins. I open my heart to receive you as my Savior and Lord. Thank You for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Lord please take control of my life and make me the kind of person you want me to be. Lord please take the selfishness out of me and help me to follow you and give willingly to others. I ask this all in Jesus Christ name. Amen!
Psalm 119:36 (KJV) 36Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.
James 3:16-17 (KJV) 16For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. 17But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
Most of the sins we commit have somewhere down deep underneath too great a concern for ourselves and too little concern for others. In the teachings of Christ we come to the very root of this matter of selfishness. A good example of this is when Jesus speaks. Do you remember in the Bible the story of the rich young ruler: “And as he was going forth into the way, there ran one to him, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me, good? None is good save one, even God. Thou knowest the commandments, do not kill, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not bear false witness, do not defraud, Honor thy father and mother. Teacher, all these things have I observed from my youth. And Jesus looking upon him loved him, and said unto him, one thing thou lackest: go, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shall have treasure in heaven: and come follow me. But his countenance fell at the saying, and he went away sorrowful: for he was one that had great possessions.” (Mark 10:17-22).
This ruler loved his material possessions more than he loved the possibility of being eternally saved. That is self-centeredness of a kind which is very common in our world today. How many of you would go and sell everything to know that you one day would have a home in Heaven beside God? That’s a difficult question for most all of us; we have fear of the unknown.
Selfishness is the way of the world. The world’s way is dog eat dog, the strong overpower the weak. Christ taught his disciples to turn the other cheek. He was willing to be crucified rather than destroy his enemies even though he could have called twelve legions of angels to do so. It wasn’t Christ’s way. Look at those people who crucified him. Look at his enemies. They selfishly killed him to get him out of their way. For the moment they won the battle, but it was only for the moment. As time has come and gone it has become ever more obvious that Christ really won the hearts of the people. His is the permanent victory. Selfishness never makes friends. Selfishness never brings happiness. When Jesus came into the world unselfishly to give himself for man he was demonstrating that the best way is the selfless way of serving others. Love one another. Christ still demands, “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me. For whosoever would save his life shall lose it, and whosoever shall lose his life for my sake shall find it.”
My friends this is a selfless act. He gave it all for us, what a mighty God we serve.
When was the last time you stepped out of this act and reached out to someone, maybe giving up a day off of resting, to go do something nice for someone else? Let me tell you, what a feeling of pure joy in your heart you will receive. Selfishness leads us to do whatever it takes to look out for number one—even if it means lying to God. We will lie, pout, manipulate someone, distort the truth—anything to get our own way. God doesn’t honor a life like that. It doesn’t please him. Because when He comes into our lives He radically changes our hearts where there is a love for people and a lesser love for things.
2 Corinthians 5:15 (KJV) 15And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
The definition of selfishness is acting or thinking of one’s own well-being alone. The opposite of selfishness is “JESUS CHRIST”.
As Jesus said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me" (Luke 9:23).
If you feel you are ready to accept Christ into your life you can do so right now by telling God you are sorry for your past mistakes, putting your trust in Him and asking Him to make you into the person He created you to be. It is as simple as saying this short prayer: Lord Jesus, I want to know you personally. Thank You for dying on the cross for my sins. I open my heart to receive you as my Savior and Lord. Thank You for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Lord please take control of my life and make me the kind of person you want me to be. Lord please take the selfishness out of me and help me to follow you and give willingly to others. I ask this all in Jesus Christ name. Amen!
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