Do you ever wonder how some people accomplish so much with their time? How do they maximize their time? The apostle Paul said we should make “the best use of the time” (Ephesians 5:16). The next few blogs will give some practical ways to make the best use of your time. Before diving into the nitty gritty, in this blog we are going to step back and look at the big picture. What is the goal of time management?
All of these could be summed up in this goal: To be time rich. Time is a commodity, just like money. Some people are money rich. Some people are time rich. Some people are both. We trade money for what we value (food, housing, clothing, etc.). We trade time for what we value. (money at a job, experiences, etc.) Every day we trade time and money for what we want. But here is an often overlooked fact: People who are money rich are often trying to BUY TIME. That’s right. Think about the people in TV commercials for luxury cars, watches, boats, etc. Sure, they have nice things and the status that comes with that, but what else do they have? Time. They are never in a hurry! They are never rushing to the next thing. They are fully present and enjoying life. They are time rich. The commercials want you to believe that buying the product will create this kind of life for you. But it won’t. You don’t need a $5,000 watch or luxury car to be time rich. You can become time rich today. Consider this: If money rich people are trying to become time rich, it means time is more valuable than money. Many people spend their whole lives in the pursuit of money and become time poor, only to realize too late that time is more valuable than money. You don’t need money to become time rich. You can learn to maximize your time and your life. And you can start today. What does it mean to be time rich? Focus, Freedom, and Fulfillment. 1. Focus The last blog discussed Focus. When we are time rich we focus on what is most important. We prioritize. Whether at work, with family, or enjoying a hobby, we are fully present in the moment. We know that we are using our time in the best way possible so we focus our attention fully on it. We aren’t distracted by other things we could be doing or should be doing. We are "making the best use of the time” (Ephesians 5:16). Focus is being fully present. 2. Freedom Many people are slaves of time. Time controls them. Like some evil taskmaster constantly breathing down their neck, time drives them like an invisible force. They frantically bounce from one task to the next. Hurry is usually a result of not planning for margin. Why do we not plan margin? Because we are worried that we aren't doing enough. Worry leads to hurry. We are trying to fit in too much, or not being willing to slow down to plan. When we remember that the results are in God's hands, we can rest. We can find freedom and peace. "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6-7). Freedom is being able to ignore the time taskmaster. It is building in a margin of time around events in your day so you aren’t constantly rushed. Freedom is having margin. Freedom is living an unhurried life. 3. Fulfillment Freedom is also being able to invest our time in what matters most. We all want our lives to matter. Moses prayed: "Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!" (Psalm 90:17). We don't just want freedom, we want fulfillment. Let’s be honest with ourselves: even if we had enough money to stop work today and sit on a beach for the rest of our life, it wouldn’t be fulfilling. It’s not what we were made to do! Having days on the beach or doing things we love are important and helpful, and we should be careful to plan for breaks. At the same time, we need to have purpose. Vacations are to renew us, they aren't our life purpose. Even in the garden of Eden, before sin entered the world, God had work for Adam to do in keeping the garden. God made us to find fulfillment in what we do. We were made to love others by showing and sharing the gospel of Christ. "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21). "Necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but if not of my own will, I am still entrusted with a stewardship" (1 Corinthians 9:16-17). We were made to use our gifts for the glory of God. "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace" (1 Peter 4:10). "Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31). We were made to use our money to support God's work. Whether we work for someone, are self employed, own a business, or make money by investing. . . giving makes our work fulfilling. Giving takes our time invested in work and adds eternal purpose and reward to whatever we do. "Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit" (Philippians 4:17). Our life is measured by eternity. This is why the apostle Paul reminds us to focus on eternity. It is easy to begin thinking that this world is all there is. To pursue what matters most, keep eternity in view. "seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory" (Colossians 3:1-4). True fulfillment comes when we use our time, money, and lives for the things that matter most. While we can’t always spend our entire day doing what we love, we can spend our entire day doing the things that enable us to do what we love. We have to work to pay bills and buy food. We all have parts of our job or chores that we don't enjoy. But many of these things enable us to do what we love. See how each part of your life enables the things that bring fulfillment. (The next few blogs will help you minimize the things that drain you and maximize the things that energize you.) Even when we have to do things we don’t enjoy, it is for our good. God uses life to mold and shape us into the person He wants us to become. It is a journey to become who God wants us to be. Joseph endured slavery and prison before he led. Moses spent 40 years as a shepherd before God called him to shepherd the Israelites. God has you on a journey to maximize your gifting and your usefulness. We must learn to find fulfillment in our daily journey. Keep taking steps towards accomplishing what matters most. Keep taking steps towards doing what you love, the things God has gifted you with, and doing it for His glory. Today is part of your journey. Be satisfied with today, but keep pressing forward for tomorrow. "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might" (Ecclesiastes 9:10). Fulfillment is accomplishing what matters most today. To be time rich, all three need to be present: Focus, Freedom, and Fulfillment. Being time rich enables us to fulfill Ephesians 5:15-16: “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time”. A Simple Truth The reason some people accomplish so much is because of their view on time. They understand a simple truth: Everyone has the same amount of time every day. We all have 1,440 minutes. How we use our time and how we view our time determines if we will be time rich or time poor. It starts with our attitude towards time. We have all been given the same incredible wealth of time as the people God used throughout history! We shouldn't complain about our lack of time. It is often a subtle attempt to feel more important or to justify why we haven’t accomplished more. We have the same amount of time as everyone else. 1,440 minutes. People who accomplish more learn to maximize their time and God multiplies it for His glory. This should excite us! We have been given the same amount of time as God’s most useful servants! How will YOU use your time? You can learn to maximize your time! You can become time rich. The next few blogs will cover practical ways to maximize your time by:
Today, view time differently. Be grateful for the wealth of time that God has given you! Becoming time rich is not about having more time (we all have the same), it is about how you use time. Use it wisely. "teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom" (Psalm 90:12). Serving together, Kyle
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