Time…!

Time, in the scriptures, is written in different ways.

All the following examples are from the King James Version, which show some of the ways “time” is written to describe when something happened, in time, or over time.

Time, a time, process of time, set time, time of life, at the time appointed, the time drew nigh, about this time, in time to come, in due time, in time past, day time, night time, according to this time, the same time, according to that time, in old time, a long time, when the time was, about the time, by that time, harvest time, in the last time, pass the time, spent some time.

There are other words use in scripture for the word time, which are the same as a “time”. For example, the words, season, and hour.

Season, for a season, at a certain season, a convenient season, in due season, a little season. Hour, hour is come, in the selfsame hour, that very hour, in the same hour.

The Psalmist prayer to God is, “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” Psalms 90:12. And James 4:14 says, “Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.” Which teaches us that our time on earth is very precious.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 tells us that, “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:” Then in the following verses, up to verse 22, we are given examples of what the verse means in a way that we can understand what verse 1 was saying. Please read these verses from Ecclesiastes Chapter 3.

The time we have right now is a continual gift from the yesterday’s we have already been given. Today is more precious than the day before, and if we should live yet another day, that is more precious still. Our present time is so important we should not waste it.

Time is not like money, we cannot earn time, nor can it be retained or saved. If we waste time, we can never get it back; that is never, ever. Therefore, we should wisely use our time.

With that said, does it mean that we cannot take or make time for rest? Most certainly not! God created a time for rest, which completed the 7-day weekly cycle. See Genesis 1:31, 2:1-3. Daily we need rest in the form of sleep. Yet even before sleep there is a time of rest we go through before we go to sleep. Daily we should set a time to rest in the LORD by spending time with Him before starting our day. Note Mark 1:35, Jesus Himself did this. There is even a time for holidays, visiting people, family time, alone time, to eat; they are different times of rest and all serve a different purpose. Note Mark 6:31, There is even a rest in death when we go to our long home; hence the saying, “rest in peace”, for death is a sleep, that only through the Godhead Bodily can we be a waken from. Note Ecclesiastes 9:12; 12:5b; John 11:11-16, 38-44.

We only have today. Therefore, every day we have is called today.

T – Treasure the time, praising God for it.

O – Order, determine the order for the things to be done,

D – Doing what is required, carrying out duties, or fulfilling the responsibilities of the day.

A – Appraise our day with God, by assessing and evaluating the worth of the day.

Y – Yielding to God in each moment in time.

Work and sleep take up the most part of our time.

We have Enemies of “time”. We will all know to some degree what that may be in our own life. We have probably all heard of the saying, “time wasters”. Some enemies of time are not of our choice, although most are of our own choosing. Sadly, we may even get hooked on time wasters; therefore, we need to be vigilant. Also note 1 Peter 5:8-11.

Here are just some examples as follows, of the enemies of time.

Procrastination, hate, illness and pain, love of money, laziness, addictions, abuse, and excessiveness, in anything: like sleep, work, alcohol, drugs, TV, video games, sin and so on.

There is a requirement when organizing our time for the things we need to do, or for the things we would like to do, especially as children of God. It is written in James 4:15, “For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.”

Prayer and Bible Study are not time wasters. Yet we should not do Bible Study to the point of excessiveness. God expects us to work, eat, and enjoy life with Him. As it is written in the scriptures, “And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.” Ecclesiastes 3:13. “Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways. For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.” Psalms 128:1-2. “There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God.” Ecclesiastes 2:24. The scriptures do, however, teach us to meditate on the Word of God, His laws, precepts, and His ways.

As it is written,

Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee. Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips: When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches. Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice. My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me. Psalms 63:3-8.

I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old. I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings. Psalms 77:11-12.

And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved. My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes. Psalms 119:47-48.

Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee. 1 Timothy 4:15-16.

We are called to, “Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. And Joshua 1:8, says, “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”

Time matters to God. Even at the time of creation, God Himself, worked six days, and rested on the 7th and was refreshed. Genesis 1:31, 2:1-3. God gave us six days to work and the 7th day for rest. Note Exodus 20:11; 23:12; Luke 13:10-17. Ezekiel 46:1. Because of our Bible study time, we learn that “Time” was set as part of the creation week, and no man can change it. Ecclesiastes 3:14 say, “I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.” God created us and gave us the ability to work that we may eat and enjoy life. Therefore, excessiveness in Bible Study, is not what God tells us to do. Remember there is a time and a season for all things. If we are able, from time to time, to do extended Bible study, do it, for it is not excessiveness.

We will even be working in the time of Eternity with God, the scriptures say, “And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them.” Isaiah 65:21-23. My prayer is that we all walk wisely in the time God has given us. “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. “James 3:17. “And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith.” Ecclesiastes 1:13.

God hath made every thing beautiful in his time: … This includes “time”. Note Ecclesiastes 3:11.

Live, work rest, and enjoy the time God has given us with Him. That we may no longer live the rest of our time in the flesh, but under the will of God. Note James 4:15; 1 Peter 4:2.