“Don’t Waste Our Lives By Wasting Our Time”
1 Corinthians 3:5-15, Ephesians 5:15-18
Sermon Series: “‘Don’t Waste Your Life”
Introduction: There are different kinds of sermons, and this is a different kind than I normally preach. We have been talking about stewardship, and I think it is important that we talk about the stewardship of our time because it is foundational to how we live and whether or not we waste our lives. So, here are two, basic biblical convictions regarding how we use our time.
Conviction #1-Live every day to be ready for the final Day (1 Corinthians 3:5-15). Judgment Day is coming for every person. Those who reject Jesus will stand before the Great White Throne to be condemned for their unbelief (Revelation 20:11-15). Those who know Jesus will stand at the Judgment Seat of Christ for their works after salvation to be evaluated for reward. This is the big picture of time management. It is useless to carefully plan our time if we are living for all the wrong things. Jesus said, “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” (Mark 8:36). We prepare for that Day by:
1. Laying the right foundation-Jesus Christ (v. 11).
2. Building a life that lasts through godly works (v. 12-15).
Conviction #2-Time is life so what our life becomes is determined by how we spend our time (Ephesians 5:15-18). Here are some biblical principles for spending our time well.
1. Live with wisdom (v. 15). Here is wisdom from Proverbs on this subject.
A. Live with discipline and self-control (Proverbs 25:28).
B. Be diligent instead of lazy (Proverbs 13:4, 6:6-11)
C. Be self-motivated (Proverbs 6:7)
D. Be proactive instead of procrastinating (Proverbs 6:8).
E. Don’t overwork unnecessarily (Proverbs 23:4).
2. Fulfill the opportunities that God gives us (v. 16). God only gives us more opportunities when we are faithful with the ones He has already given us. The phrase, “redeeming the time,” literally means “to buy back divine opportunities.” I believe the way that we do that is through preparation and obedience.
3. Know and do the will of God (v. 17). This will cause us to live for the right things. We do the will of God by:
A. Learning and obeying Scripture.
B. Asking God to show us His plan for our lives and following that plan.
4. Live in the power of the Holy Spirit (v. 18). This enables us to live in God’s strength and power instead of our own. We are filled
with the Spirit by confessing our sins, surrendering to the Lord, and asking Him to control us by His Spirit.
Conclusion: Are we ready for the final Day? Are we using our time wisely for the glory of God or are we wasting our lives by wasting our time?
