Making the Best Use of the Time

In comes to the time of the year when some people will set resolution for this year. There are many things that we want to do, new things that we want to accomplish, but how many are those things accomplished when we come to end of the years?

In a medical handbook, these words were written: “If you want a job done quickly, give it to a busy man.” During this time of holiday, we have a lot of free time, but how many of us have used these few days wisely or fruitfully?

When things are not done, everyone of us tend to give the same excuse: “I don’t have time to do it.” But let us admit this one fact: We all have time to do the things that we want to do, but not the things that we ought to do. So it really depends much on how we us our time.

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. (Ephesians 5:15-16 NIV)

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. (Ephesians 5:15-16 ESV)

你们要谨慎行事，不要像愚昧人，当像智能人。要爱惜光阴，因为现今的世代邪恶。(以弗所书 5:15-16)

A chinese proverb says: 明日复明日，明日何其多，日日待明日，万事成蹉跎。“There is always a ‘tomorrow’ after ‘tomorrow’, there are a lot of ‘tomorrows’, if we are waiting things to be done tomorrow, nothing will be done”

"The time has come," [Jesus] said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!" (Mark 1:15)

[耶稣]说:日期满了,神的国近了!你们当悔改,信福音! (马可福音 1:15)

When Jesus said, “The time has already come, the kingdom of God is near,” there is a sense of urgency in it.

For unbelievers, repent and believe.

For believers, continue to repent and believe, and do what we are called to do in our own vocation, either as a student or in our job.

So waste not our time, don’t wait for tomorrow.

Jesus said, "Behold, I am coming soon!"  (Revelation 22:7) 看哪，我必快来！ (启示录 22:7) So making the best use of the time, spend your time wisely, spend your time on doing the things that really matter.

Do you have things that you should be doing as one who is in Christ such as reading the Word of God, praying, fellowshipping with one another?

Do you have things that you should be doing in your occupation eg. as a students, you should be studying for lesson, preparing for your exam?

Don’t wait for tomorrow, do it today. Spend your time wisely.

If we have time doing things that are not really beneficial, eg. watching movies, watching video clips, engaging in social network; but don’t have time to do the things that we should be doing or things that are beneficial, we are making a very big mistake.

"Everything is permissible"—but not everything is beneficial.

"Everything is permissible"—but not everything is constructive.

(1 Corinthians 10:23)

凡事都可行，但不都有益处。凡事都可行，但不都造就人。(哥林多前书 10:23)

So are we spending time on things that are beneficial and constructive?

Since we are called to make the best use of the time, the second thing is that we should do our things on time, arrive to our meeting place on-time. Do not be late.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1:1)

起初 神创造天地。God is the one who created ‘time’. (创世记 1:1)

The very moment when heavens and earth formed, time starts (t=1), the history starts.

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)

主所应许的尚未成就，有人以为他是耽延，其实不是耽延，乃是宽容你们，不愿有一人沉沦，乃愿人人都悔改。(彼得后书 3:9)

God, who is eternal, who is not bound by time, has created time. Although as One who is the Creator of time, who is not bound by time, He is not slow in keeping His promises. What He said, what He promised, He will bring it to pass.

Since our heavenly Father does everything on-time, even though He is infinite, even though He is not bound by time, how much more, we, as finite creatures, as creatures that are bound by time, should keep our promises, and do everything on-time.

For it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy." (1 Peter 1:16)

因为经上记着说：“你们要圣洁，因为我是圣洁的。”(彼得前书 1:16)

So in the same way, be on time, since He is always on time, since He is not slow in keeping His promise.

Some of you might say that nowhere in the Bible is stated that we should arrive to our meeting place on-time, or being late is wrong. "You shall not steal.” (Exodus 20:15)  不可偷盗。(出埃及记 20:15)

Being late is equivalent to stealing other people’s time. So let us not steal other people time by being late.

Some might ask: Does it really matter? Does time really matter since those who believe in Jesus will not perish but have eternal life? Isn’t the kingdom of God a matter of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, rather than manage our time well? Aren’t there weightier matters of the law like justice, mercy, and faith? Let us consider what R.C. Sproul said: Unless we are faithful in little things, it is very unlikely that we're going to be faithful in the weightier matters of the law.

So brothers and sisters, let us keep in mind 2 things:

(1) look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil, spend time on things that are beneficial and constructive, even though many thing is so-called permissible for us,

(2) be on time in whatever we do, because the Lord is not slow in keeping his promise.