Those verses read (in the ESV): Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise, but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.
This sermon may be the most important thing I read (or have read) this entire summer, outside of the Bible of course. We all know that how we use our time as Christians is important, but simultaneously time management and preventing time from being wasted is one of the greatest struggles in the Christian life. So the question is, do we truly have a sense of just how precious the time God has allotted for each one of us to live on this earth is? Jonathan Edwards helps us answer and think through that question. You can read the entire sermon here but below I have posted an outline of his main points:
SECTION 1
Why time is precious.
1. Because a happy or miserable eternity depends on the good or ill improvement of it.
2. Time is very short, which is another thing that renders it very precious.
3. Time ought to be esteemed by us very precious, because we are uncertain of its continuance.
4. Time is very precious, because when it is past, it cannot be recovered.
Why time is precious.
1. Because a happy or miserable eternity depends on the good or ill improvement of it.
2. Time is very short, which is another thing that renders it very precious.
3. Time ought to be esteemed by us very precious, because we are uncertain of its continuance.
4. Time is very precious, because when it is past, it cannot be recovered.
SECTION 2
Reflections on time past.
Reflections on time past.
SECTION 3
Who are chiefly deserving of reproof from the subject
of the preciousness of time.
1. Those who spend a great part of their time in idleness, or in doing nothing that turns to any virtuous account
Who are chiefly deserving of reproof from the subject
of the preciousness of time.
1. Those who spend a great part of their time in idleness, or in doing nothing that turns to any virtuous account
2. They are reproved by this doctrine who spend their time in wickedness
3. Those are reproved by his doctrine, who spend their time only in worldly pursuits, neglecting their souls.
3. Those are reproved by his doctrine, who spend their time only in worldly pursuits, neglecting their souls.
SECTION 4
An exhortation to improve time.
1. That you are accountable to God for your time.
2. Consider how much time you have lost already.
(1.) As your opportunity is so much the shorter.
(2.) You have the same work to do that you had at first, and that under greater difficulties.
(3.) That is the best of your time which you have lost.
3. Consider how time is sometimes valued by those who are come near to the end of it.
4. Consider what a value we may conclude is set upon time by those who are past the end of it.
An exhortation to improve time.
1. That you are accountable to God for your time.
2. Consider how much time you have lost already.
(1.) As your opportunity is so much the shorter.
(2.) You have the same work to do that you had at first, and that under greater difficulties.
(3.) That is the best of your time which you have lost.
3. Consider how time is sometimes valued by those who are come near to the end of it.
4. Consider what a value we may conclude is set upon time by those who are past the end of it.
SECTION 5
Advice respecting the improvement of time.
1. Improve the present time without any delay.
2. Be especially careful to improve those parts of time which are most precious.
3. Improve well your time of leisure from worldly business.
Advice respecting the improvement of time.
1. Improve the present time without any delay.
2. Be especially careful to improve those parts of time which are most precious.
3. Improve well your time of leisure from worldly business.
For me, laziness is the one of the most plaguing sins in my life. If left alone to my own devices, I know I could easily waste this entire summer (as I did so last summer, and the one before). Graciously God has been showing me the folly of my ways, and I know that a good portion of the 21 years that I have been alive has been wasted. This summer I hope to do more than just recognize that time is valuable (though that is a huge step in itself), but also make better use of the time I have been given. Hence the summer reading and the blog. We live in a world full of distractions, and it is very easy to get caught in them, but our time is meant to be spent for the glorifying of God (which can be done in may ways). So the question is not simply how are you spending your time, but also ask yourself why are you spending your time doing the things that you are. This is something that needs to be done daily, and there is so much more I could talk about (such as what are things that can be deemed a waste of time, or how we are to go about making good use), but the heart of the matter is this, time has been given to us by God, the days we live in are evil, and so we are called to redeem that time. So I ask that you please be praying for me this summer, that I learn the value of time, and that I make use of it in a way that is glorifying to God.
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