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TIME MANAGEMENT
Time has varied meanings and definitions. Oxford Dictionary gives it about eighteen different definitions. Time can mean an occasion “moment suitable for a purpose”. And for us, we shall limit our study to the underlined.
This is because our study is not about time in general but about how time relates to moment (s) suitable for a purpose, which is God’s purpose, over our lives, as Christians and especially as leaders of different gospel labours.
Purpose is described by the Bible as counsel or will. The bible says:
There are many devices in a man’s heart;
nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that
shall stand.” (KJV)
“Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but
it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails” (NIV)
“We human keep brainstorming options
and plans, but GOD’s purpose prevails”
(The Message) Prov. 19:21
Whatever the plan of any man may be, it is only the purpose of God for him that will surely come to pass. God simply put, sponsors His exact purpose in a man’s life. Therefore it amounts to a sheer waste of time and other resources, for anyone to strive to work out a plan, which is not in line with God’s purpose for him.
Management
“All of us must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us
by the one who sent me, for there is a little time left before
the night falls and all works comes to an end. “(LB)
“We need to be energetically at work for the One
who sent me here, working while the sun shines.
When night falls, the workday is over. “(The Message)
John 9:4
There are three basic things, which Jesus understood:
I The work or task assigned that must be done
ii The owner of the work- the sender
iii The relationship of time to Jesus’ effectiveness.
I The work or task assigned that must be done: Jesus understood that He was not an accident here on earth, as many people seem to think. Jesus knew that, He was here on earth for an assignment. He did not occur here, as a person, by error. Anybody that will be a fulfilled person must realize early enough, that he/she came to this earth on an assignment. For Jesus, the assignment is not secondary but very primary. The assignment, which is the work, is not what is to be done after every other thing, but what must be done at all cost. For Jesus, there is no alternative to this. And it is the reason to be energetic at it. Everything must be put into it.
No one will make a meaningful impact in life, except, first and foremost he/she discovers the task assigned to him/her by God and then throws his whole life into ensuring its performance or execution.
ii The owner of the work- the sender: God primarily owns the task or the work. And this is the God, who sent Jesus and each person who ever lived or living on earth. Nobody comes ; right time for everything on earth”
(The Message) Eccl. 3:1
This verse shows that, to do a thing is not the problem, but to do it when time provides opportunity alongside to act. In other words, to plant is not a difficult thing, but if a man plants at the time of harvest, he will have his seeds wasted.
Time may be available for everything on earth, but not every time will be right for everything, hence the need for each person to learn how to organize his time, such that right things can be done at the right time.
JESUS UNDERSTANDING OF TIME MANAGEMENT:
“I must work the works of Him that sent me, while it is day:
the night cometh, when no man can work. “(KJV)
“All of us must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us
by the one who sent me, for there is a little time left before
the night falls and all works comes to an end. “(LB)
“We need to be energetically at work for the One
who sent me here, working while the sun shines.
When night falls, the workday is over. “(The Message)
John 9:4
There are three basic things, which Jesus understood:
I The work or task assigned that must be done
ii The owner of the work- the sender
iii The relationship of time to Jesus’ effectiveness.
I The work or task assigned that must be done: Jesus understood that He was not an accident here on earth, as many people seem to think. Jesus knew that, He was here on earth for an assignment. He did not occur here, as a person, by error. Anybody that will be a fulfilled person must realize early enough, that he/she came to this earth on an assignment. For Jesus, the assignment is not secondary but very primary. The assignment, which is the work, is not what is to be done after every other thing, but what must be done at all cost. For Jesus, there is no alternative to this. And it is the reason to be energetic at it. Everything must be put into it.
No one will make a meaningful impact in life, except, first and foremost he/she discovers the task assigned to him/her by God and then throws his whole life into ensuring its performance or execution.
ii The owner of the work- the sender: God primarily owns the task or the work. And this is the God, who sent Jesus and each person who ever lived or living on earth. Nobody comes to this Planet on his/her own. God sends each person, to go and carry out a specific or specified task.
The understanding of Jesus about where He came from and where He shall return, must have helped Him, in putting His all into the task assigned to Him. The Bible says:
“Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things
into His hands, and that He was come from God,
and went to God.” (KJV)
“Jesus knew that…He had come from God and would
return to God”. (LB)
“Jesus knew that the Father had put him in complete charge
of everything, that he came from God and was on His
way back to God.” (The Message) John 13:3
If each person knows what Jesus knew in His earthly days, about where we all came from and where we would return to, then there will be a better attitude towards the tasks assigned each of us. If each believer or leader knows that, he/she had come from God, then nobody will leave God’s task to be pursuing after personal tasks.
iii. The relationship of time to Jesus’ effectiveness: Jesus understood that He could only be energetic at work, while the sun shines. That despite the fact that He was Jesus, yet there was a time when the sun of His life shined and such a time was the only time He can be energetically at work for the One who sent Him.
Jesus understood that it will not be “shine, shine” all through. He knew that another peril will set in, when there will be no energy to work; a time when the work day is over! A time when all work comes to an end.
Therefore, He worked, while His sun was shining; while it is yet His day, before the night falls. No one, no matter who can guarantee effectiveness once the night of his/her life falls.
Jesus further explained:
“Jesus replied, there are twelve hours of
daylight everyday, and during every hour
of it, a man can walk safely and not stumble.
Only at night is there danger of a wrong step,
Because of the dark.” (LB) John. 11:9,10.
These verses confirm that the life of an individual is in two equal parts:
a. Daylight.
b. Night.
Whatever a man wants to do can only be done in his daylight, for he will not stumble, but at night is the danger of a wrong step.
TIME MANAGEMENT: ILLUSTRATION
FROM THE LIFE OF JEHU:
1 kings -17, 19-21; 2 kings 9:1-10, 11-13; 1 kings 19: 15-17.
When Elijah resigned his appointment with God, God instructed him to anoint three people, before he will finally leave the scene. God asked him to anoint Hazael as king over Syria , Jehu as king over Israel
Elisha was the first person to be discovered by Elijah and by 2 kings 2:9-15, he was anointed as prophet, to take over from Elijah but Jehu, up till that time was still nowhere to be found.
Though Elijah could not anoint Hazael as king over Syria
Elisha, who was supposed to be the contemporary of Jehu, had started his work, while Jehu was still missing. Jehu was still in the army of Israel , when he ought to have been the king over Israel
Several people are in the shoes of Jehu today. They appear to be “doing well” in what they are doing, when in actual fact, they are on the wrong track of life.
THE DISCOVERY OF JEHU
2 KINGS. 9:1-2. By the time Jehu was to be discovered, for
his pending assignment, Elisha who should be his contemporary had been able to produce prophets, who could be sent on errands. Elisha had to send one of the men he had raised to go and search for Jehu. It means that, Elisha will now be in the position of a “grandfather” to Jehu, since, his own son in the ministry is now giving birth, so to speak, to Jehu.
Jehu was lost in the midst of his “brethren”, so he must be made to arise from among them. So many people who should have been helped by God, seem stagnated, because they could not see beyond what is common to other brethren. So Elisha commanded the son of the Prophet to separate Jehu from his brethren. No man who has a correct understanding of God’s assignment for him vis-à-vis the available time, that will be able to flock with commoners among the brethren.
And truly, when the young prophet came to Ramoth-Gilead, Jehu was well seated among other captains (2 Kings 9:4-5). Jehu was so insensitive and visionless, such that, when the young prophet announced his errand, Jehu did not see himself as a man, God could have intended the message for He felt the message brought by the young prophet could be for any of them.
THE SCOPE OF JEHU’S TASK
1Kings. ,17; 2 Kings 9:3, 6-10. It is not worthy that the scope of assignment for Jehu, as revealed to Elijah did not change, despite the fact that Jehu had wasted so much time. When the young prophet finally came to anoint him as king over Israel
This shows that, God does not make any provision for the years wasted by a man, before he finally discovers God’s purpose for his life. No matter how much time is wasted, the scope of the task will still be the same.
REALITY OF THE TASK AS AGAINST
THE AVAILABLE TIME
2 Kings. 9:11. When Jehu came out of the chamber, where he was anointed for the task, it was obvious that something had dawned on him. He found it difficult to go back to take his former seat.
Apparently, his colleagues noticed that his countenance had changed; they all chorused, Is all well?” Jehu had finally seen the task ahead and how urgent it was.
THE DRIVING OF JEHU: 2 KINGS. 9:12,13,16-20. A man who had lost time will not seek for a coronation ceremony. A makeshift throne would just be all right.
Spending months on the mountains, praying for public address system, place of worship etc. is a reflection of a heart that is insensitive to the urgency of the matter at hand. Jehu did not wait for crown, staff of office and certificate of coronation before he started the assignment.
The horsemen who came to meet him were not given any chance of long discussion. Jehu had no more time frivolity (2 Kings -19).
The watchman described the driving of Jehu to the king:
“The lookout reported, He has reached them,
but he isn’t coming back either. The driving
is like that of Jehu son of Nimshi- he drives
like a madman.” (NIV) 2 Kgs
Is there any other way for a man who had wasted about half of his daylight to drive? When people spend so much money, energy and time on church anniversaries and so on, one wonders if the reality of time has ever dawned on them.
2 Kings 9:21-24. Joram had just escaped the sword of Hazael (2 Kings ) and the Lord had spoken to Elijah that, he who escapes the sword of Hazael, will Jehu kill. So it is Jehu’s task now to see that Joram does not escape.
But once Joram saw that Jehu was not going to be friendly, he turned his chariot and fled. Jehu did not stop to be strategizing. The Bible says:
“And Jehu drew a bow with his full strength, and smote
Jehoram between his arms, and the arrow went out at
His heart, and he sunk down in his chariot.”
Jehu was ready to use every available opportunity and he was not giving anything to second chance. Every chance must be fully converted. Jehu was not going to strike lazily or strike twice. He pulled the bow with his full strength!
The one who understood Time management does not waste opportunities; such a person utilizes every opportunity God provides for him.
2 Kings 9:27. Whereas, Jehu killed Joram personally, but in the case of Ahaziah, though he pursued him, yet he ordered other soldiers to kill him.
When Jehu got to Jezreel and Jezebel was out to seduce him, he used Eunuchs to throw her down (2 Kings -37). All of these, Jehu did in one single day! It was after Jezebel had died that Jehu took time off, but briefly to eat. And this was still the very day he was anointed king of Israel
Again, the following day, Jehu had to pursue his assignment with renewed vigour and this time around, he used writing to execute his task (2 Kings 10:1-11). With writing, he was able to kill seventy sons of Ahab. By the third day, he had killed all the great men of Ahab and his kinsfolks and his priests, until nobody was left for Ahab according to the word of the LORD. (2 kings 9:12-28). In few days, Jehu accomplished all that the LORD spoke concerning him.
In managing time, specific wisdom must be required from the LORD, to see areas that can be explored in order to help us in covering and recovering the lost ground . Part of such resources could include, people around us, writing of books etc.
GOD’S VERDICT FOR TIME WELL MANAGED
2 Kings 10:30
“And the Lord said unto Jehu,
because thou hast done well in
executing that which is right in mine
eyes, and hast done to the house of
Ahab according to all that was in mine
Heart, thy children of thy fourth
Generation shall sit on the throne of
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