This lesson, “The Importance of Proper Time Management”, can be a tremendous blessing and starting point in your quest for happiness. How we, manage our time will determine the future for good or bad. I think you’ll find that the little bit of truth on this subject can and will impact your life for the better, if you will apply it everyday. Along with this lesson I would like to recommend “Being Faithful”. This deals with the importance of consistency and faithfulness and how it will bless us. Check it out! With that said, let’s get started!
The Only Currency We Will Ever Have.
“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: [2] A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; [3] A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; [4] A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; [5] A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; [6] A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; [7] A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; [8] A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.” Eccles. 3:1-8 (KJV)
Time, what is it? According to Webster it comes from the idea or measure of successive existence. Simply put, time (in the sense of real-time) is the sum of our existence in successive measurements. Others have made their own statements about time.
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN:
Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that the stuff life is made of.
CAPTAIN JEAN-LUC PICARD:
Time is a companion that goes with us on a journey. It reminds us to cherish each moment, because it will never come again. What we leave behind is not as important as how we have lived.
AUTHOR
“Time is heaven’s currency we have been given each day to spend. This currency comes to us from God and will run out at a predetermined point.”
Knowing what time is will lead us to the next obvious question, “What do we do with it?” There is only one thing we can do with time and that is spend it. As the real and limited currency of life it should naturally give us a sense of urgency and finiteness. But more importantly we must examine what we will spend our time on. If time is life’s currency, where will we spend it? What will we spend it on? Who will we spend it with? Are you willing to spend two weeks of time to build a paper airplane? How about five years to start a business? Some things are worth our time and others are not. As we meditate deeply on this we will soon develop a feeling that it is a very important part of our lives.
Spending time wisely is so important that we should consider a thing before getting involved in it. For example, all of the money you have today in assets and cash is a direct result of time that you spent. Time gave you the opportunity to make all of it. It wasn’t just time though, it was your willingness to spend your time for this specific purpose. In looking a little closer, the time you spent was a portion of your life. You were willing to trade a part of your life for an item or asset. So the things we have are a result of a trade. Our time has been traded for money, assets or other things.
Question #1 What is your personal definition of time and how do you feel about spending it? If your definition of time is a good one we may include it in this lesson.
The Currency of Time is Limited
“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: [2] A time to be born, and a time to die… Eccles. 3:1-2 (KJV)
The limited amount of time each of us has is very precious. We start out life in birth and we finish our race in death. The time in between is measured every day one tick at a time. To a child time seems to march by so slowly but as we age it seems to fly by so quickly. To the wise man it is a precious commodity that must be used wisely every day. For the sum of any life is the way time was spent.
“For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. [15] And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.” Matthew 25:14-15 (KJV)
Time is heavens currency that has been given to mankind. This parable spoken by Jesus Christ speaks of the importance of proper time management and setting priorities in life. This is a parable of three people who were given talents. They didn’t earn the talents; they simply received them. In the same way we haven’t earned our time; it has simply been given to us. Since it has been given to us we become stewards over its’ use. A steward is someone who manages the possessions of another. Each of them perceived value in the talents that they had received and used them accordingly. The first two were wise and spent the talents with the strategy of making more out of them. Their talents increased and they gave the master back more than they started with. Even though we can’t increase our time we can do prosperous things with it or we can waste it and have nothing to show in the end. The serious part of this parable is that the master (Jesus Christ) returned and required an account of their spending activities. Let’s see what happened.
“Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. [17] And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. [18] But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money. [19] After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. [20] And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. [21] His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. [22] He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. [23] His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. [24] Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: [25] And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. [26] His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: [27] Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. [28] Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. [29] For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. [30] And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Matthew 25:16-30 (KJV)
Question #2 Do you feel that time management is important?
Time Managed Wisely Produces Great Results.
“He hath made every thing beautiful in his time…Eccles. 3:11 (KJV)
Time, like any other currency, when managed properly produces great results. Much can be said of managing money and reaping the benefits. Mutual funds and retirement accounts all tout the wisdom of investing for the future by putting money aside today. Anyone who is seriously interested in future financial blessings must invest today. The same is true with our time. It is heavens currency, which must be invested wisely each and every day. When investing financially, goals must be set. When managing our time we too must set goals and follow them as much as possible. Without goals we will get to the future with little to show. When we see the importance of wisely investing our time today, tomorrow will arrive with joy and fulfillment.
Investing takes time and consistency. A little each day adds up to a lot in time. Even if your investment each day is small, you will reach your goal and the total balance of your investment will have increased more than the sum total of what you put in. This is Gods’ way of blessing us. I know it takes time and it is hard to be consistent for a long period of time but very few things of value come quickly and the investment will be worth the sacrifice.
“An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.” Proverbs 20:21 (KJV)
In other words, when we get things quickly we cannot see the value of it. I know, we all want to reach our goals quickly with little effort. If it happens for you, great. If not, just remember that when you consistently make an investment of your time you will reach your goals. Are you starting a business? Your business will require a certain investment of time to become prosperous. Are you desiring a better relationship with your wife/husband or maybe a friend? The desired outcome requires time invested.
Setting aside time for what you want though will mean eliminating time for other things. This is what I call time management. If your relationship is important then spending time on it will be a priority. If your business is important you will need to set aside time to spend on it and ignore other things. You see, time management is more than just a business principle it is a priority principle. What is really important to you? That’s the Question we all must ask ourselves. Some people asked Jesus Christ this very question. What is the greatest commandment in the law? They were really asking, what is the most important priority of life? He answered them.
“Master, which is the great commandment in the law? [37] Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. [38] This is the first and great commandment. [39] And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. [40] On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” Matthew 22:36-40 (KJV)
Solomon searched for the answer to this question way back in the days of the kings. He came to the same conclusion.
“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. [14] For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” Eccles. 12:13-14 (KJV)
What do you think is the most important thing in life? What are your goals? Do they include God? These and many other questions like them need to be considered when spending wisely for the future. When God is the center of your life he will make everything go well. He sets the tone for our overall attitude and outlook.
“Therefore 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. [33] But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:31-33 (KJV)
Question #3 Have you set goals for your life? Do they include God?
Conclusion
Time management is very important. In essence it is setting goals so that in the future we will prosper and be blessed. The most important thing in your life is what you will spend your money and your time to purchase. Remember when you are spending, that all of it is limited. We will make only so much money and will have so much time in our lives and that’s it. What we do each day with our resources will come home to us whether for the good or the bad. Choose the way of freedom, which is the right way. Spend your time wisely, for each moment that goes by is a small part of your whole life. If you have made mistakes in the past by wasting time don’t worry, today is a great day to get started again on the right track. The sooner you start the sooner your investment will give you a return.
Thanks for taking the time to go through this lesson, I trust it has been a blessing to you. The very fact that you have made it this far means you are serious about your future. If you would like to talk to someone about this lesson please let me know and someone will get in touch with you as soon as possible. There is someone is in your area who cares and wants to help. Also, let me know what you think of this lesson, I would love to hear your comments. Hope to see you soon.
Sincerely,
Greg Wirths
Focus on Freedom
Focus On Freedom 