Thursday, August 30, 2012

Time Well Spent?

Credit: FreeFoto.com

I have been given thought lately to the subject of time. More precisely, how am I spending time in light of eternity? Am I making an eternal difference with my time? I, like everyone else, has 24 hours in a day, is it used wisely? I recognize there many things in life which are necessary, yet eat up time. Some of these include working, shopping for groceries,and maintaining our cars and homes. Just naming a few. Of course, it is good to set some time aside for rest and doing some fun things. Oh yes, these things may also be done to God's glory. However, am I doing well making time for things of eternal importance? I, like many other believers devote time to church, Bible study, prayer, serving, quality family time and so on.

Now let's pull this back a layer. What is my motive for setting time aside for the things of God? Oh how critical having a right heart is in all that we do. First, we must have an intimate love relationship with the Lord, then we must love what we do. When its is not in place, instead of experiencing joy, our work becomes burdensome. All we are doing  is trying to appease God or someone else. All this results in is whitewashing our outside in order to make us appear as though we are committed Christians. One, in fact, may be saved,yet saved as though fire. I do not want all I do in life to be burnt up. (See 1 Corinthians 3:9-15)  When everything we do is done out of love and built upon Christ, it is real. Loving Christ first and foremost, then building upon that foundation is critical to our life counting for eternal value.

 

1 Corinthians 13:1-8a

New King James Version (NKJV)

The Greatest Gift

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.
Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails…


Sometimes we grow weary and tired because we bite off too much to chew. Sometimes one may be striving to accomplish something God has not called them to. This being said, when our walk becomes dry and our work becomes burdensome, one may in fact have a heart problem. If this is the case, take some time and examine your heart, one may need to return to their first love.
 

Revelation 2

New King James Version (NKJV)

The Loveless Church

“To the angel of the church of Ephesus write,
‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: 2 “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; 3 and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. 4 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent. 6 But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
7 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.”’


















12 comments:

  1. Hi Ken,
    So true! Our first love, Jesus Christ. We need to love and be in love with Jesus. We need to love God with our whole heart, mind and soul. He needs and deserves to be number one in our life always and at all times.

    When we are in love with God and hang on His every word, then even the most boring of chores becomes thrilling and exciting.

    Great post Ken, thanks!
    <><

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  2. Thank you Child of God for your comment and stopping by.
    God bless,
    Ken

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  3. Powerful post! Thanks for posting! So true that we must love what we do, if not it'll seem like a burdensome task for us. I think what is most important is that we must be purposeful in the things that God is called us to. Only then we will not see it as a boring task. Doing things out of God's love is the most valuable and precious masterpiece because He is doing it with us! God bless ya Ken! :)

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  4. This is a great post! I catch myself every now and then wondering why I'm doing something. Even my inspirational blog can become a burden- then the Lord prompts me to return to Him. Life's just not full without the Lord. And ministry just doesn't work without Jesus in the center. Thanks for this!

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  5. Dear Ken,

    GREAT POST!!!

    I truly believe God's Love CONQUERS!!!

    The other day I mentioned to my wife that we both must have a love for Jesus Christ above all, even though we both love each other as dearly as we do!!!

    God's blessings to you my Brother in Christ and friend,
    Lon

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  6. Hello Ken, this has made me think..I was always time efficient at work, yet since being retired, I don't count time the same. Time is valuable, you are right.. and we should appreciate and value it.
    Isn't it great that Heaven has no time.. then we will enter into our eternal rest. Blessings CML

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  7. Hi Ken ~ It's so good you are back blogging. I have missed your posts and your comments. I can see that you still have great things to share with us!

    Blessings . . . Chelle

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  8. Glad to see you back Ken!
    I really like the verse you chose about in your last post:
    (Mat.15:13) about Christians being the salt..How true it is, we are also that light to a dark world, and we need to place that light wherever it can be seen best...If that is blogging, then, we must blog!
    I am sure you used your time to honor God whatever you were busy with...His Spirit works through us, sometimes in ways we may not realize right away.
    As you probably know by now, I am struggling, but believing the Lord will provide a way for me to blog as He wants me to. I just need to learn patience, and time managment as well!
    ~God Bless~ Lisa

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  9. I wish to thank everyone for your comments.
    Blessings,
    Ken

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  10. Hi Ken,

    I am replying to you from Chelle's Blog (a friend of mine!) because for some reason I can't get past the word verification on blogs that require it! I looked for your email but couldn't find one either...

    Anyway, I am so glad to see you back blogging; I've always enjoyed reading your posts!

    Good words and thoughts posted here; love what you do, and learn to say no if it becomes a burden. :) God always has a say in how we spend our time!

    Blessings and love my friend; look forward to hearing from you again, and if you have a contact ( or you want to remove word verification!) I would love to keep in touch.
    Denise @ Refine Me

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