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Introduction: The Gift of Time

  • Scripture Reference: Psalm 90:12 – "Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom."
  • Time is a limited resource, given by God.
  • The average life expectancy worldwide is approximately 73 years. This translates to:
    • 26,663 days
    • 639,918 hours
  • Challenge: How are we using our time to prioritize worship and communion with God?
  1. Breaking Down the Inventory of Time
  1. Total Time in a Year:
    • 365 days x 24 hours = 8760 hours/year
    • Emphasize the vast inventory of time we have annually.
  2. Time for Worship:
    • 52 Sundays per year, minus 2 weeks for vacation, leaves 50 Sundays.
    • Typical worship service: 1 hour per Sunday.
    • Total Hours Spent in Worship Annually: 50 hours.
  1. Calculating the Percentage of Time Spent with God
  1. The Calculation:
    • 50 hours (worship) ÷ 8760 hours (total) = 0.0057 (or 0.57%).
    • Highlight: This equates to half of 1 percent of our time annually spent in dedicated worship and communion with God.
  2. Perspective:
    • Compare this to other activities:
      • Work (40 hours/week): ~2000 hours/year (23% of time).
      • Entertainment (TV/Streaming): Average ~3 hours/day = ~1095 hours/year (12.5% of time).
    • Where does worship rank in importance based on time spent?
  1. The Importance of Time with God
  1. God Desires Our Fellowship:
    • James 4:8 – "Come near to God and he will come near to you."
    • Our relationship with God grows through intentional time spent in His presence.
  2. Why It Matters:
    • Time spent with God strengthens our faith, equips us for life’s challenges, and aligns us with His will.
    • Matthew 6:33 – "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
  3. Comparison to Human Relationships:
    • Relationships require investment of time to grow.
    • Question: How can we expect a strong relationship with God if we dedicate less than 1% of our time to Him?
  1. Giving of Our Time and Resources
  1. Time as Worship:
    • Spending time serving others is a tangible expression of worship.
    • Matthew 25:40 – "Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me."
  2. Resources as Worship:
    • Generosity in giving reflects a heart devoted to God.
    • 2 Corinthians 9:7 – "Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."
  3. Practical Applications:
    • Volunteer for church or community projects.
    • Dedicate time to mentoring or supporting someone in need.
    • Consider financial stewardship as an act of worship, giving joyfully to the work of God.
  1. Increasing Time with God
  1. Beyond Sunday Worship:
    • Worship is vital, but communion with God should extend into daily life.
    • Encourage practices such as:
      • Daily prayer – "Pray continually." (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
      • Bible study – "Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path." (Psalm 119:105)
      • Praise and worship – "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord." (Psalm 150:6)
  2. Practical Ideas to Increase Time with God:
    • Morning Devotions:
      • Start the day with 15-30 minutes of prayer and scripture reading.
      • Reflect on one verse or passage to carry through the day.
    • Incorporate Prayer Breaks:
      • Pause for 5-10 minutes during work, meals, or transitions to pray or meditate.
    • Meditation Walks:
      • Take a short walk while reflecting on God’s creation and His works (Psalm 19:1).
    • Listening to God’s Word:
      • Use audio Bibles, Christian podcasts, or worship music during commutes or downtime.
    • Evening Reflections:
      • Journal thoughts, prayers, and gratitude before bed.
      • End the day with a short prayer of thanks and trust for the next day.
    • Engage in Acts of Service:
      • Dedicate time to serving others as an expression of worship (Matthew 25:40).
  3. Reprioritize Time:
    • Evaluate your daily schedule and identify opportunities to replace idle activities with intentional time with God.
    • Even small daily increments can significantly increase the overall percentage of time spent with God.
  1. The Eternal Perspective
  1. Redeeming the Time:
    • Ephesians 5:15-16 – "Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil."
    • Reflect on the brevity of life and the importance of using time wisely for eternal purposes.
  2. Investing in Eternity:
    • The time we spend with God has eternal rewards.
    • Challenge: If time is a gift from God, how much are we giving back to Him?
  1. Ending Message of Encouragement
  1. A New Year, A New Opportunity:
    • As we enter the new year, reflect on how much of your time is truly devoted to God.
    • Isaiah 43:19 – "See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland."
  2. A Challenge for Growth:
    • Commit to increasing your percentage of time with God this year.
    • Practical Goals:
      • Add 15 minutes of prayer or Bible study to your daily routine.
      • Dedicate time weekly to acts of service or ministry.
  3. Encouragement:
    • Philippians 4:13 – "I can do all this through him who gives me strength."
    • No matter how busy life gets, God will equip and bless your efforts to draw closer to Him.
  4. Call to Action:
    • Embrace this new year as a fresh opportunity to make God your priority. Together, let’s strive to grow in faith, love, and devotion.

Scripture References

  1. Psalm 90:12 – "Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom."
  2. James 4:8 – "Come near to God and he will come near to you."
  3. Matthew 6:33 – "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
  4. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 – "Pray continually."
  5. Psalm 119:105 – "Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path."
  6. Psalm 150:6 – "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord."
  7. Ephesians 5:15-16 – "Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil."
  8. Jeremiah 29:13 – "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."
  9. Matthew 25:40 – "Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me."
  10. 2 Corinthians 9:7 – "Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."
  11. Isaiah 43:19 – "See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland."
  12. Philippians 4:13 – "I can do all this through him who gives me strength."