DON’T
WASTE TIME (Eph. 5:16)
The churches of
Christ Greet You (Romans 16:16)
Quotes:
“Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of.”
Benjamin Franklin
“We live in deeds, not years; in thoughts, not breaths; in feelings, not figures on a dial.
We should count time by heart throbs.
He most lives who thinks most, feels the noblest, acts the best.” Unknown
“The clock of life is wound but once,
and no man has the power to tell just when the hand will stop, at late or early hour.
Now is the only time you own! Live, love, toil with a will;
place no faith in tomorrow for the hands may then be still.” Unknown
“Time is the most important thing in the world.” Thomas Edison
The Importance of
Time
Science has been able to add a number of years to the span of life,
but the greatest question of the day is not how to add years to life, but how to add life to years.
There is a vast difference between existing and using one’s time well.
Example: What do we know about Methuselah? (Gen. 5:21-27).
Time – the best remedy for heartaches and ills (Gen. 41:50-51).
Time – the most efficient detective to uncover error and bring truth to light (Gen. 45:25-28).
Time – the best builder. The passing of the years can build a great city where cattle once roamed.
It can rise up a teacher of the Word from a babe in Christ (Heb. 5:12-14).
Time – the best arbitrator to restore broken friendships
(Acts 15:36-40; 1 Cor. 9:6; Col. 4:10-11; 2 Tim. 4:11).
Time – Is not important to God. Why? (Ps. 90:2; 2 Pet. 3:8)
Time – Is important to man.
Why? (Job 14:1, 5; Ps. 39:4; 90:10, 12; Prov. 27:1; John 9:4; James 4:13-14)
REMEMBER: Many of the valuable things of life which are lost can be regained…
Character, health, lost friends, silver and gold…but time cannot be gotten back.
When once it is gone, it is gone forever.
God Condemns Idleness
and Laziness
Jesus rebukes idleness with a question – Matt. 20:6
Hunger is one penalty of idleness – Prov. 19:15; 2 Thess. 3:10
Idleness can affect the clothes we wear – Prov. 23:21
Idleness leads to other sins – 1 Tim. 5:13
Ways That Time Can Be
Wasted
The reason many Christians do not have time to do church work
is because they waste their time doing things not essential.
Lack of application – Prov. 6:6-11
Lack of organization – Prov. 22:29
Reading cheap literature – Prov. 23:7
Unwholesome recreation and entertainment – 1 Thess. 5:22
Meditating on fanciful injuries – Matt. 18:15
Pondering past mistakes – Phil. 3:13-14
Worrying about what may happen in the future – Rom. 8:28
Gossiping or lending ears to a gossiper – Prov. 17:9; 1 Pet. 3:10
Lying in bed longer than is needful or helpful – Prov. 20:13
Unnecessarily long telephone conversations – Prov. 10:19; Ecc. 5:2-3
Excuses Offered for
Wasting Time in the Lord’s Vineyard
“I don’t have time to do church work
because I have so many other things that have to be done.” (Matt. 6:33)
“I am too young to give my time to the Lord.” (Ecc. 12:1)
“I am too old to accomplish anything for the Lord.” (Isa. 46:4) Moses as example…
Age may necessitate retirement in the commercial world,
but we must never retire in the Lord’s service (2 Cor. 4:16).
“If I could do a big work, I would.” (Luke 16:10)
“The Lord can’t use me in His work.” Jesus use “two mites” (Mark 12:41-44).
Jehovah used a stone, a sling, and a shepherd boy to overcome a giant (1 Sam. 17).
Jesus use a boy’s lunch to feed the multitudes (John 6:9-11).
The Lord used a donkey in His service (Matt. 21:1-3).
Return
To: Preaching/Teaching Outlines