Sermon Central
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Stewardship Of Time Series
Contributed by David Slone on Apr 29, 2007 (message contributor)
Summary: 1st in a 3 part series about stewardship. Focuses on time and how as Stewards, our time has been bought by the blood of Christ. Three points, 1 Our time is not ours, it is his, 2 Time is a vapor, 3 Your time can change the world. Powerpoint available u
Eternal Investments
(Stewardship from God’s perspective)
Time
Talent
Treasures
This week we will be looking at the stewardship of time.
How much time do we have
There are 60 minutes an hour, 1,440 minutes a day, 10, 080 minutes a week, 43, 200 minutes a month.
So how do we spend our time anyway?
The average person spends:
70 days reading the Bible
6 months sitting at stoplights ?
8 months opening junk mail ?
1 year looking for misplaced objects?
2 years on the internet
4 years doing housework ?
5 years waiting in lines
5.5 years driving a car
7.5 years listening to the radio
10 years in front of television
Many people think of stewardship as only meaning money but the Bible speaks of stewardship of our lives!
The Bible teaches that we are stewards
A steward was a servant or slave who had earned the trust of the master.
As Stewards We Are Slaves and He trusts us.?
The most important truth that we can learn when we discuss stewardship is that we certainly are not our own.
Perhaps the problem is that many of us are unwilling to relinquish total control to Jesus in everything.? But He wants all of us
1. Our time is not ours, it is HIS
19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.
You are not your own, you belong to Christ and He wants you to redeem your time
15 Be very careful, then, how you live not as unwise but as wise, 16 redeeming every opportunity, because the days are evil.
The Greek word translated “redeem” is a form of the word that means “buy” or “purchase.” It was used with reference to buying back a slave, and in the NT usually refers Christ’s purchasing our salvation.
“Redeeming the time” is not referring primarily to the hours and minutes of the Christian’s day, but rather to the opportunities we have to serve God.
He has given us so many hours/days on this earth to use as opportunities to serve him.
How much of your day is used to serve Him?
How much of your day is spent telling others about him?
How much of your day is spent teaching your children God’s ways
The time we are given is not ours, it is His, which He has entrusted to us.
Can you given Him a little of it? He bought it with His blood. Can you start somewhere today?
1. Our time is not ours, it is His
2. Time is a vapor, just a moment
James 4:13 – 14 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.
I read the heartbreaking story of a little boy whose dad was always busy working. One day the boy asked, “Dad, how much money do you earn in an hour?” The impatient dad said, “I don’t know, I guess I make about $50 an hour when I’m working, now don’t bother me.” After a couple of weeks of doing odd jobs around his neighborhood, the little boy approached his dad one evening and said, “Dad, here’s $25. Can I buy 30 minutes of your time so we can play together?”
Our lives are but a vapor on this earth
Time is short, in the scope of eternal life, our time on this earth is miniscule
He is asking you to use the time He has given you wisely.
Many of the things of this world that we waste our time doing, do not make a hill of beans of a difference in anyone but ourselves
Your time with serving the Lord and your time spent with your family should be the most important time you have.
1. Our time is not ours, it is His
2. Time is a vapor, just a moment
3. Your time can change the world
Has your life made a difference?
Have you used the time God has given you to grow up Godly children?
Have you used the time God has given you to tell your friends, co-workers and family about God’s love?
Have you used the time God has given you to play with your kids?
Have you used the time God has given you to serve God’s people?
I know, not a popular idea but we are actually supposed live seeking how we can serve the other person not upset because they don’t serve us.
