168 Hours Per Week

My Study

168 Hours Per Week

The idea of stewardship has been on my mind. I just heard a sermon on how to best steward your money, but I couldn't help but apply the message to a different area of stewardship. In this post, I am not going to discuss money management, but rather time management in relation to God's Word. Let us first look at the term stewardship. After all, the Bible calls Christians to be God's stewards.

{ As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace... 1 Peter 4:10 }

{ For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain.. Titus 1:7 }

{ This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy. 1 Corinthians 4:1-2 }

God owns everything. Let that sink in. God owns the earth, the world, and all who live in it (Psalm 24:1). If we truly believe that God owns it all, then the way we view our money, possessions, knowledge, and time each changes. We are foreigners in this land. God is owner, we are stewards. A "steward" is an overseer or protector of something that is worth caring for. Because God is owner, He is also the provider. Because we are stewards, we are called to be faithful with what God has given us including our time here on earth.

Work and rest are both Biblical principles. It is important to have a healthy balance of both. Work is a result of the fall according to Genesis 2:15 and 3:17-19. God gave man the responsibility to take care of this earth. In addition, rest is from God. He even set an example of rest in Exodus 20:8-11. A day of rest can be healthy and refreshing. We need rest in order to function properly and carry out the will of God. Our bodies are just not wired to operate 24/7. The Sabbath is God's gift that we need to open and use!

Resting does not entail idleness or irresponsibility! Rest is restorative. Rest gives us the energy to get things done. Rest is productive, laziness is unproductive. Do not wait for the "perfect" time to work. Just do it! There is a time to rest hard for the Lord and a time to work hard for the Lord. Value both.

{ A little sleep, a little slumber,    a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber,     and want like an armed man. Proverbs 24:34 }

{ The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves. Mark 6:30-32 }

During your work time, work diligently under authority. Whether it be writing a paper for a professor, doing laundry for your husband, or paying the bills for the Government. Keep at the work. Be careful not to let business become an excuse not to do the things God wants. Above all else, stay busy doing the Lord's work.

I love this quote from John Piper:

{ “Every moment is a sacrament where time touches eternity and there is exactly enough time to do what God has called us to do.” John Piper }

God has given each second of everyday to us out of His love and mercy. He has also provided

 us with everything we need for a life of godliness. Take advantage of these blessings! There 

are plenty of times when we do not steward well the time given to us. Thanks be to God 

who forgives us for our unwise use of time! Breath out confession, breath in forgiveness. 

Breath out a cry for help, breath in the power of the Holy Spirit. 

Our use of time suggests who or what we value. I encourage you to write down everything 

you do for a week. You may be surprised at how much time you spend doing meaningless 

tasks like looking on your phone or watching TV. These things are not sinful, but they can

 become idols. If someone were to look at your schedule, what might they say you value 

most? Create an ideal schedule and compare it with your current one. Make sure you plan 

time for the Lord and others every day. Leave some unscheduled time for your changeable 

To-Do list. Dedicate your most alert times of the day for your most important priorities. Ask

 yourself, "What am I doing today to help me prepare for who I want to become tomorrow?"

 We all have as much time as the President of the United States, 168 hours per week. We 

have time. The question is what will we do with it? 

{ Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. }

 Ephesians 5:16 

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