Do You Have Time For God?
We are all “busy people”. In 1Kings 20:39-40 we read of a prophet that was “too busy” to do as the king asked him. And as the king passed by, he cried unto the king: and he said, Thy servant went out into the midst of the battle; and, behold, a man turned aside, and brought a man unto me, and said, Keep this man: if by any means he be missing, then shall thy life be for his life, or else thou shalt pay a talent of silver.40 And as thy servant was busy here and there, he was gone. And the king of Israel said unto him, So shall thy judgment be; thyself hast decided it. In verses 41 and 42 we read of the cost incurred because of his actions. And he hasted, and took the ashes away from his face; and the king of Israel discerned him that he was of the prophets. 42 And he said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Because thou hast let go out of thy hand a man whom I appointed to utter destruction, therefore thy life shall go for his life, and thy people for his people. In essence, he didn’t “have time” to do as Commanded. The price was his life, and that of his people.
Today, we live in busy times. Many have had their schedules altered and made more difficult as a result of various things. Time is at a premium. We seem to have more demands on our time that we did just a short while ago. FACT: We have as much time now as we have always had. There has always been twenty-four hours in a day. The “key” is what we do with the time God has granted us. The churches of Macedonia in 2Corinthians 8:3-5 are an excellent example of how to use our time in service to God. For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; 4 Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. 5 And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God. When one “gives themselves” to God, they dedicate themselves to God and finding time to serve Him is no problem.
The apostle Paul also serves as an excellent example to us as to how we are to spend our time in service to God. In 2Corinthians 12:14-15a we can read to what degree Paul served God for the benefit of the Corinthians. Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children. 15 And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; . . . From this we can surely see how important it is to find time for God.
But still, folks continue to offer the same lame excuse: “I don’t have time to . . . “ Incredibly, they even apply this to service to God. This “dog won’t hunt” as the saying goes. Most have time for all else they wish to do! We are told in Ecclesiastes 3:1 of the FACT that there is indeed time for all man is to do while on this earth. To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: Then we see in Ecclesiastes 3 2-8, a list of a number of “purposes” in which a person could participate. Surely this includes time for God. As we read Hebrews 12:28 we clearly see that the Spirit has the penman write these Hebrew Christians that the kingdom has come, and in that kingdom, one MUST make time for God. Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
Now, think of the “time” God has dedicated toward humanity. It is easily seen in 1Peter 1:18-20 that even before “time” began God had a plan that would be carried out. Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, This was done for the saving of man’s soul and happened in God’s timeframe.
God chose a people through whom to bring His Son to earth. They were the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He gave them a law, and separated them for this purpose. This took many years. We then read in Galatians 4:4-5 when this happened and why. But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. In God’s “New Testament Law” God gives promises. One of these promises is Salvation through Christ. In 2Peter 3:9 we are told that God still offers “time” so people can repent and come to Christ. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. This shows God still has time for us, if we will turn to Him as directed in His New Testament Word, and be obedient to the gospel.
Christ provided the sacrifice for salvation in His death on the cross, and we have been given time to obey Him in accordance to His Word that we might contact the blood of Christ. Why will you not make time for God? If you don’t make time for God, there is a huge price to pay. Are you willing to pay that price and spend eternity in Hell? Your choice – Choose wisely.
Dennis Strickland – Mooresville church of Christ
