Tag: Time

Time Well Spent

Allan Bevere is a United Methodist minister. He tells the story of attending a continuing education event in Atlanta. One day, his workshop ran late, and he missed dinner. He was forced to eat at a nearby Burger King. As he walked in a homeless man stopped him and asked him for money. Allan didn’t give him money, but he offered to buy him a meal. The homeless man accepted, and the two men got in line. When they were given their plastic trays, the homeless man said, “Thanks” and turned to eat by himself.

Allan decided to eat with him and followed him to a table. He admitted later it may not have been the wisest choice. The homeless man smelled. Allan said it was hard to eat at first, but then they started to talk. The homeless man’s name was Jason, and he was from southern Florida. He lived with his mother and sister. He hadn’t seen his biological father in years. When his mother found a new boyfriend, he moved in with them. In time, the boyfriend began abusing him and his sister, so they ran. His sister moved in with her boyfriend. Jason bought a bus ticket to Atlanta to make his fortune. The fortune never came, and now Jason was living in the streets. The more Jason talked the more Allan felt sorry for Jason and offered to buy him a bus ticket back to Florida. Jason declined the offer. He said, “No one wants me in Florida.” Allan didn’t know how to respond.

When the meal was over, the two parted. Allan went back to his clean hotel room. Jason went back to the streets. However, before they parted, Jason said something Allan will never forget. He said, “Thank you for your time.” He didn’t thank him for the food. He thanked him for his time. That story reminds us time is valuable. How do you spend your time? That takes us to our scripture.

We find ourselves in the first eleven verses of the eighteenth chapter of Acts. The very first verse tells us Paul was in the city of Corinth. Located just off the Corinthian isthmus, Corinth was the crossroads for both travelers and traders. It was a massive, diverse city. Goods flowed through the city from as far west as Spain to as far east as Egypt. Like Athens, the Corinthians placed a high premium on philosophy and wisdom. Corinth was the home of twelve temples, yet Corinth was infamous for her immorality. Her prostitutes were known around the world. Many would not have even tried to convert them, but this is the Apostle Paul. He knew, the converts he won for Christ in Corinth could easily influence the world. Jesus could be their chief export! Verse eleven tells us Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a half.  

It is that line that grabbed my attention this week. Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a half. That is a long time, if you are Paul. Most of his stays were very short. In Philippi, he stayed a few weeks at best. In Thessalonica, he stayed approximately a week. In Berea, he stayed a day. He did not stay long in Athens. He did not stay in Corinth for a year and a half because he got tired of traveling. He stayed in Corinth a year and a half because the challenge in front of him was so great. The time aspect in this story is significant because time itself is significant, especially to us mortals.

Psalm 90:2, says, Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.” That means God transcends time. In other words, God is not limited by time, but that is not our story. We are limited by time, so we are preoccupied with time. It is one of God’s gifts to us. Every year, God gives us 365 days to live. Every day, God gives us 24 hours to live, 1,440 seconds. If you live to be one hundred years old, then God is giving you 36,525 days to live, including twenty-five leap years. There is no other way to say it – our time is limited. It is my experience that we view time differently as we grow older. The young feel like wasting time is fine, because they have so much left. That is not the case as you grow older. I try not to waste a single day. Benjamin Franklin (1705-1790) once said, “Lost time is never found again.” Do you feel like you are spending your time wisely? How we spend our time reveals our priorities. With those questions in mind, let me ask you these questions:

How much time do you spend handling your responsibilities?  Your responsibilities include work, paying bills, cleaning the house and mowing the yard. Each one of those things is important and each one of those things takes time. Our responsibilities take up a great deal of time. How much time do you spend handling your responsibilities?  

How much time do you spend maintaining your relationships?  We are social animals and maintaining the relationships in our lives takes time. How much time do you spend doing things you don’t want to do because it makes someone in your life happy? That is why grandparents go to baseball games and dance recitals. That is why we attend our spouse’s high school reunions or Christmas parties. How much quality time do you give to your loved ones? How much time do you spend maintaining your relationships?

How much time do you spend on yourself?  In my last few years in the ministry, we were introduced to the term self-care. We were encouraged to take a regular day off. We were encouraged to take all our vacation days. Leaves were offered to those who felt like they were burning out. At first, I dismissed self-care, but no more. Maybe if I had practiced more self-care, I would have lasted longer in the ministry? Self-care is not selfishness. Self-care is important because it helps us escape and rest. How much time do you spend on yourself?

How much time do you spend cultivating your relationship with God?  The founder of Methodism, John Wesley (1703-1791) asked the question, “How is it with your soul?” It is an excellent question because our lives are incomplete without God. That is why the spiritual disciplines are important. The spiritual disciplines are worship, Bible study, fasting, simplicity, solitude, and service. Each one of those things takes time. How much time do you spend cultivating your relationship with God? How we spend our time reveals our priorities. Do you feel like you are spending your time wisely? I am sixty-seven years old, and I ask myself that question regularly.

Several weeks ago, I officiated at a wedding at my former church. I was proud to be part of the wedding. The bride’s name was Katee. She is a beautiful young woman, who I have known most of her life. Her parents joined my church when she was five years old. The church was a big part of her life. She attended Sunday school regularly as a child and was confirmed at twelve years old. As a teenager, she participated in the annual mission trips and the high school Sunday school class. I celebrated with her when she graduated from high school and was happy when she graduated from college. At one point, she was a police officer in my hometown, and is now serving in another community. I viewed her wedding as a celebration of a life well lived.

My wife Kathryn and I went to the wedding reception. The venue was beautiful. We sat at a table with extended family, and we observed the festivities. At one point, Katee and her groom, Tyler, went from table to table to welcome their guests. As I watched them, I thought not just about Katee, I thought about all the people I served at my last church. In my twenty-eight years there, we had been through so much together. I thought about all those Christmas Eve services together. I thought about all those Holy Week activities. I thought about all those Easter mornings. I thought about all the sermons I preached. I thought about all the children I confirmed. I thought about all the children who went to church camp and went on mission trips. I wondered how many babies I baptized and how many people I buried. I wondered how many couples I joined in marriage. How many meetings did I attend and how many crisis moments had I endured. But most of all I thought about the people I had served. They were not perfect people, but they were good people.

As I thought about all those things, I will admit very few things were done perfectly, but everything was done with a genuine spirit of Christian love. Everything was done in the name of Jesus. As I look back, I am proud of my body of work, and I believe my time in the ministry was time well spent. I hope when you look back on your life, you feel the same. Proverbs 16:3 says, “The heart of a man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.”

Perfect Balance

On February 24, 1584, Pope Gregory VIII (1105-1187) signed a papal decree that the Christian world would accept the new Gregorian calendar. The motivation behind the Gregorian calendar was the Julian calendar, which assumes that the earth takes 365.25 days to circle around the sun. The days are divided into twelve months and an extra day is added every four years. According to the Gregorian calendar the new year begins on the first day of January.

Today, the new year is celebrated around the world. Can you name any other holiday that the world, in its entirety, embraces more than New Years? Did you know Sydney, Australia celebrates the New Year by exploding 80,000 fireworks for an estimated crowd of 1.5 million at the stroke of midnight? In Valparaiso, Chile two million come to see fireworks explode. In England, everyone gathers at the London Eye to watch fireworks as Big Ben strikes midnight. In New York City, a crystal ball is dropped in a one-minute countdown in Times Square. Edinburgh, Scotland hosts the world’s largest Hogmanay events to celebrate the New Year. The event lasts four days. In Rio de Janeiro two million people gather on the famous Copacabana Beach to watch a fifteen-minute fireworks display. Finally, in Central America New Year’s events are scheduled throughout the entire month of January.

Can I ask you a simple question? Why do so many people get excited about New Years? The world does not celebrate any other day on the calendar like New Year’s Day. Why January 1? Just think about it. There is nothing special about March 1. We barely notice it. No one cares about August 1. The world does not notice the coming of November 1. December 1 is lost in the Christmas season. What makes January 1 so special? Why do so many people get excited about a New Year? If you surveyed the worldwide crowds, then you would discover there are several reasons why people celebrate the New Year.

Some celebrate the New Year because they will celebrate anything. This group is always ready to party. Are you in this group? They are the same people who pretend to be Irish on Saint Patrick’s Day. They are the same people who pretend to have Mexican roots on Cinco De Mayo. For this group any reason is a good reason to party, so why not celebrate New Year’s Day?

Some celebrate the New Year because they are glad to see the old year go. Maybe you are glad to see 2023 go. For many, it was a difficult year. I have had years I am glad to see end. You will always remember 2023 as the year you did not have a job. You will remember 2023 as the year you lost a loved one. Or you may remember 2023 as the year you discovered that you had cancer or some other health issue. Every year is not a happy year. I remember 2020 as the year of the pandemic. It frustrated our good lives. Some years are a mix of the very best and the very worst. 2021 was the year my daughter got married and the year I had major surgery. How will you remember 2023?

Some celebrate the New Year because it symbolizes a brand-new start. Do you need a brand-new start? I use an electronic calendar, but my wife still uses a paper calendar. I will admit it, there is something about a brand-new paper calendar. Your old calendar is faded and worn but your new calendar is clear and crisp. Each day is empty and filled with possibilities. What do you want to do better in 2024? What area of your life do you want to improve? That is why people make New Year’s resolutions. Have you ever made a resolution to mend a broken relationship? Have you ever made a resolution to watch less television and read more? Have you ever made a resolution to eat less or exercise more? Now is the time to improve yourself! There is no better time to improve yourself than right now.Let us look at our scripture lesson.

We are instructed today from the first nine verses in the third chapter of Ecclesiastes. These words were written by King Solomon. He will always be remembered as a man of wisdom. Some have questioned that because he had 700 wives. (One is enough for me!) Our scripture reminds us that life should be lived in balance. There is no way you could miss the pattern of these verses. There is a time for this and a time for that. If you look at the text, you discover that the this’s and the that’s are linked. Nothing should be done all the time. Nothing should be eliminated all the time. Life is meant to be lived in a certain balance. For example, no one should work 24/7. On the other hand, no one should vacation 24/7. The wise one, Solomon, tells us life must be lived in balance. Are you living your life in balance?

Is your spiritual life in balance? In Matthew 4:4, Jesus quotes, Deuteronomy 8:3. It says, “Man does not live by bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Our world has a surplus of people who are living spiritually out of balance. There is a time to do the temporary things of this world and a time to do the eternal things of God. How much time do you spend doing temporary secular things? (Working, paying bills, cleaning the house) How much time do you spend doing eternal things with God? (Worship, devotion, prayer) Solomon believed mankind is basically blind to God’s meaning for man’s existence. We spend our days chasing after things that really don’t matter. How many meaningless things are going to fill your calendar in 2024? How much time are you going to give God in 2024?

This is the good news for today – now is the time! There is no better time to improve yourself than right now. Now is the time to break your old secular patterns and draw near to God. My goal is to help you live more balanced lives, spiritually. I am going to do that by reminding you of one thing and then challenge you to do something else. There is a time for the things of this world and there is a time for God.

First, if you want to live a balanced spiritual life then I want to remind you that you are a child of God. That is easy to forget in our world. We are so busy running around; we are so busy dealing with life’s problems and challenges. Never forget, you belong to God. The Westminster Confession of Faith says, “The purpose of life is to glorify God.” In Romans 14:8 Paul says, “If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.”  Never forget that you are a child of God. Is the way that you live bringing glory to God?

On September 3, 1967, the old television game show What’s My Line? went off the air. It had been a staple on CBS for seventeen years, airing 867 episodes. Do you remember What’ s My Line? If you do, then you have been watching television for over fifty-five years! Do you remember how the game was played? What’s My Line was a guessing game. The three-person panel would ask the guest ten yes and no questions. They were trying to discover their vocation. At the end the panelists would guess what the guest did for a living. In seventeen years, the country discovered there were many odd vocations and many people who did not stereotypically look like their vocation. So let me ask you the question:

What is your line? You can earn money in many ways. You may be a teacher, preacher, librarian, engineer, secretary, or a person of business. Those are ways to earn money, but they are not your primary purpose in life. Your job is just a part that you play in this world. It is how you pay the bills. However, what you really are is a child of God. If you are going to live a balanced life, both secularly and spiritually, then never forget your true purpose, to glorify God. Does your life bring glory to God? Or do you have some work to do?

Second, if you want to live a balanced spiritual life then I challenge you to develop a plan to help you grow spiritually. In other words, I want you to schedule God into your life. I hope you make God a real priority in your life. There should be a time for service and a time for spiritual disciplines. Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962) once said, “It takes as much energy to wish as it does to plan.”  Now is the time. What is your plan to grow spiritually in 2024?

Years ago, I preached a sermon series on the Old Testament book of Nehemiah. Do you remember his story? He went back to the city of Jerusalem. The city at that point in history lay in ruins. Nehemiah dreamed of building a wall around the city so he could rebuild it. Along the way we learned that he was both a visionary and a leader. We learned he was detail oriented. Do you remember? He had a plan. He knew the length of the completed wall. He knew the height of the completed wall. He knew the thickness of the completed wall. Based on those facts he knew what he needed to complete the wall. Having a plan doesn’t mean you don’t trust God, having a plan simply means you going to do your best for God.

What is your plan to grow spiritually in 2024? Maybe one of the reasons you aren’t growing in faith is that you don’t have a plan? Now is the time to plan. How much time are you planning on giving God this year? Are you going to read the Bible more? Are you going to pray more? Are you going to mediate more? Have you scheduled God into your life, or doesn’t God fit into your plans for this year? What is your plan to grow spiritually in 2024? Let me end with the random facts.

Did you know the first electric light was so dim that a candle was needed to see its socket? Did you know the first steamboat took 32 hours to chug its way from New York City to Albany, 150 miles? Did you know Wilbur and Orville Wright’s first airplane flight lasted only 12 seconds? Did you know the first automobiles traveled 2 to 4 miles per hour and broke down often? Carriages would pass them with their passengers shouting, “Get a horse!” What do those stories teach us? How you begin really doesn’t matter. What matters more is how you end.

How are going to end 2024? Are you going to be closer to God then you are at this moment? The great wise one, Solomon, said mankind is basically blind to God’s meaning for man’s existence. We spend our days chasing after things that really don’t matter. Life is meant to be lived in perfect balance! Is your life in perfect balance between the temporary things of this world and the eternal things of God? Or do you have some work to do. Now is the time to begin.