Notes of Faith May 25, 2026
Pastor’s Pen Pulpit Accountability Series
June 8, 2003
THE ACCOUNTABILITY FACTOR
You And Your Time
Sometimes I’ve said, “I wish I had more time.” We don’t need more time. We have 24 hours in every day. What we need is to learn to manage our time more wisely.
God has allotted each of us a measure of time on this earth (Psalm 90:10). The time allotted us, regardless of how long or short it is – is but a vapor, a whisper, a breath (James 4:13, 14). Our concept of time is somewhat relative. We view 10, 20, 30, 50, 70 years as either a short or long life.
In the context of these allotted years, God has given each of us a time slot in which to determine our destiny and position in His kingdom…a time slot in which to make our mark for Him down here. It was Carl Henry who said: “time is the arena of man’s decision on his way to an eternal destiny.” Examples:
(1) Our Lord came on time – Gal 4:4; He left on time – John 13:1. In between these points He made His contribution.
(2) The apostle Paul was given a course to finish and he finished it
(II Tim.4: 6, 7).
(3) The apostle Peter did the same (II Peter 1: 12-14).
Time was of the essence for these men. God has given to each of us a course for our life. He is desirous that we finish it. He will give us that time slot in which to do that. This involves the development of a strategy for our lives; the strategic use of our time. The fool has no strategy for life.
Time is to be viewed as a precious commodity (Eph. 5:15, 16; Col 4:5). Redeeming the time, buying up the time, investing wisely in your time. We need to consider time as a valuable commodity not to be wasted. It is in the context of time that anything is accomplished – whether good or bad. One day you will be called upon to give account of the time entrusted to you. We are in a race with a certain amount of time to finish (Heb 12: 1).
Are you wasting time?
(1) What constitutes wasting time? A false concept of wasting time is that if one is not 100 percent involved in the preparation or execution of your job/ministry, you are wasting time…the work-a-holic.
(2) We are to recognize each day as 24 hours of opportunity to glorify God.
(3) This is not to take away from your enjoyment of the wholesome things of life. God wants you to be a well-rounded person (I Timothy 6:17).
(4) Whatever you do, you do it with a view to making God look good (I Cor. 10:31). Time not used constructively to edify, build up spiritually, mentally, or emotionally is a waste of time.
THE BOTTOM LINE:
I think we become more aware of the preciousness of time as we grow older –for we have a tendency to look at life a little more realistically. This is simply because we have lived more of it and have less of it left. Some face the tragedy of a wasted life, a life in which nothing has been accomplished for God. When a person comes to those years when they have nothing but regrets and lost opportunities, they are filled with the bitterness of wasted yesterdays. For the most part they try to justify all of this. All because they did not take seriously the time that God has allotted them to make an impact for Him in their realm of influence for time and eternity.
On the other hand, how wonderful it is to come to the end of your life and be able to say with Paul and Peter, “I have fought the good fight – I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. There is laid up for me the crown of righteousness which the Lord, the Righteous Judge will give to me on that day, and not to me only but to all who have loved His appearing” (II Tim 4:6, 7).
Young people, older people, today is the first day of the rest of your life. What will you do with it?
God bless,
Pastor Charles Covington
1 Cor 10:31
whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
Col 3:17
Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.
Col 3:23-24
Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance.
Rom 13:11-14
it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.
Let us strive fervently in our pursuit of following Jesus, true disciples who desire to be with Him, become like Him, and do the things that He is doing!
Pastor Dale