KEYS
TO EFFECTIVE TIME MANAGEMENT
Effective Christian time management is
encapsulated in Eph 5:15-16 which says “Be very careful then how you live – not
as unwise but wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are
evil.” In King James’ version of the bible it is said we should work
circumspectly.
Walking circumspect signifies
to look round and about on all hands. To be very watchful daily, and cautious
in order to avoid danger, discern enemies before they come too close and secure
your interest by every possible and lawful means.
This admonishment is for a
reason – the days are evil. You should sojourn on this planet earth like a wise
man and not like a fool. This will help you redeem the lost time because the
days are evil. This means the present times are dangerous, they are full of
trouble and temptations, and only the watchful and diligent have any reason to
expect they shall keep their garments unspotted.
We should see ourselves as
stewards of God in the body temple. Our time belong to God, every moment is His
and we are under most solemn obligation to improve it to His glory. Of no
talent He has given will He require a more strict account than our time.
Let us look at God’s time
template recipe for success – time is the measurement of unit of life. Time
renders relevance.
Ø
Planning
– what and how
Ø Motivation
– personal rewards
Ø Directing
– implementation
Ø Monitoring
– record keeping
Ø Controlling
– eliminating unfavourable variances, reinforcing favourable variances
Ø Communication
– coordination of information
More men fail through lack of
purpose than lack of talent. The bad news is time flies. The good news is that
you are the pilot.
PRINCIPLES OF TIME MANAGEMENT
Important and urgent:
o
Foremost is your relationship with God – Matt 6:33.
Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things
will be added unto you.
o
Your relationship with family i.e. spouse and
children. They will support or derail your relationship with God.
o
Your relationship with the ministry of God. What
are you doing in the vineyard of God?
o
Your talent – how does your talent impact on
God’s work. Do not copy the foolish servant that buried his talent under the
earth. Do something for God by showcasing your talent in the house of God.
o
Health – meals, rest, exercises, pleasure.
o
Career – education and finance. Do not let
your passion debar your quest for wisdom, knowledge and understanding.
Important but not urgent:
o
Friends especially friends that have negative
influence on us.
o
Relationship that lead us to sin.
o
Peer reference – comparing yourself with
others rather than comparing yourself with yourself.
o
Unhealthy competition in the church. We should
not waste our time in such.
Urgent but not important:
o
Fashion
o
Latest gossip
o
Appearance
o
Movies especially the obscene ones
Not important not urgent:
o
Idleness. Prov 20:4-5. In the middle east, the
season for planting is winter, rainy season. A lazy man (sluggard) avoids the
discomfort and work of ploughing a muddy field in the cold. At harvest time he
looks for crop from his field but he has nothing. Lack of work leads to lack of
benefits. A person’s plans are like deep waters only a wise man draws it out.
o
Loitering – no idea what to do with time.
o
Procrastination – delay is dangerous.
o
Misplaced priority – doing the right things at
the wrong time
On every
task, draw an action plan, meaning from objectives to success. The plan must
be:
ü Specific
– goals listed from 1 to 10 for example.
ü Measurable
– what are the outcome of the goals or plan. It must be quantifiable.
ü Attainable
– do not plan for the unachievable. Your plan must be achievable otherwise it
is a waste of time.
ü Resource
oriented – there must be tools to bring the plan to fruition. There must be
infrastructure for the plan to blossom.
ü Must be
time sensitive or time bound – allot time frame to the plan and monitor it. Identify
time available for the plan and work towards achieving it.
Seek God’s guidance on time
as in Ps 90:12. “Teach me to number my time/days so that I apply my heart to
wisdom”. Identify time wasting activities and weed them off. Know when you are
most productive and make the most of it. Is it in the wee hours of the morning,
or late morning, or in the afternoon, or in the evening or in the night?
JESUS
EXAMPLE WITH TIME
1.
Time with God – Matt 3:16. After His baptism
the heavens opened and the holy spirit poured on Him and He communed with God
2.
Time with the disciples – Matt 9: 10 – end. He
had time to teach His disciples and interpret parables to them.
3.
Time to attend wedding – John 2:1-11. He
turned water to wine in Galilee.
4.
Time to work in the synagogue – Matt 13:54. He
began teaching people in the synagogue from tender age.
5.
Time for ministry – preaching, teaching,
healing, meeting the needs of the dying souls. Matt 5:22-29
6.
Time to meet Lazarus – John 11:1-45. He mapped
out time to go and raise Lazarus so that people around would know that it was
God that actually sent Him.
Put God first in the day.
Martin Luther King said “I have so much to do today, I couldn’t possibly do it
all without three hours of prayers.” Ps 90:17 says “The lord favour rest upon, establish
the work of our hands.”
Brethren, think the work of
the ministry of Christ. Plan on the conduct of your God given duties. Rom 8:28 “And
we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them
who are the called according to His purpose”.
God given activity is always
regimented with the appropriate timing as in the case of Passover feast. Num
9:3. “In the 14th day of this month, at even, ye shall keep it in
His appointed season: according to all the ceremonies thereof, shall ye keep it”
Lastly – Time lost can never
be regained. Time is lost in smaller quantities. Make good use of time in between
major activities. Procrastination is a thief of time. A wise man does at once
what a fool does at last. A year from now you would wish you had started.
Warren Buffet used to be the
richest man in the world. He started investing at the age of nine but later
regretted not starting at the age of five. Whatever you have resolved to do, do
it quickly, defer not till evening what the morning can accomplish.
The best time to plant a tree
is twenty years ago. The next best time to plant it is now. It is never too
late to start. Do not waste others’ time because time is wealth. How do you
feel when you miss your flight by five minutes? Remember we will all account
for the use of every moment of our time.
Thank you.
Jerome C. Njoku 08035316842,
08099384111.
