Time Ties - Nicole Ransom

Time TiesChristian Education October 5, 2014

Taught by: Nicole Ransom

Deuteronomy 30:19-20 (NIV)

19This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live 20 and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Ephesians 5:15 (NIV)

15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

Time Ties: 24-7

24 hours per day, 7 days per week = 168 hours per week; 10,080 minutes= 8,760 hours per year ; 525,600 minutes

• Age 27: 236,529 hours; 14 million minutes • Age 50: 438,000 hours; 26 million minutes• Age 75: 657,000 hours; 39 million minutes

The average American spends their life…• Sleeping: 25 years (8 hours per day)• Trying to lose weight/dieting: 17 years (women)• Working: 10.3 years (40 hrs./week, age 20-65)• Watching TV: 9.1 years• Shopping: 8 years (women)• On social media: 6 years• Driving: 4.3 years• Looking at a phone: 3.9 years• Eating: 3.7 years• Cooking: 2.5 years• Watching commercials: 2 years• In the bathroom: 1.5 years• Cleaning: 1.1 years• Deciding what to wear: 1 year (women)

Wasting Time

Distractions• Be careful who and what you give time to and

thus allow to influence your life • Luke 8:4-8, 11-15

“14 The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature.”

Distractions • The average 18-64 year old American spends 2

hours per day on social media• Specifically, among social network users:– 18-34 yr. olds spend an average of 3.8 hrs./per day– 35-49 yr. olds spend 3 hrs./per day– 50-64 yr. olds spend 2.4 hrs./day

• Females spend almost 40% more time on social sites than males (3.6 hours vs. 2.6 hours)

• Study across 24 countries reports an average 3.6 hours per day spent on social media (U.S. ranked the lowest, Mexico ranked highest)

Social Media is not the only way we waste time…

• Focusing on worldly riches • Seeking the approval of others • Unforgiveness • Worrying • Fear• Following the crowd• Jealousy • Staying angry• Hearing and not doing • Lazyiness• Being busy for no real reason

Wasting Time

Focusing on material wealth and possessions• Matthew 6:19-21, 31-34

Wasting TimeFocusing more on people than on God• Judging others: Matthew 7:3-5• Comparing ourselves to others: 1 Corinthians

12:14-20, 25-27• Jealousy: James 3:14-16• Seeking the approval of others: Galatians 1:10-12

Wasting Time

Worrying • Matthew 6:25-27, 33-34

Wasting TimeBeing afraid to move forward • 2 Timothy 1:7“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”• 1 John 4:18 “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”

Wasting TimeHearing and not acting• James 1:22“22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”• Luke 6:49“49 But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”• Matthew 25:15 parable

Wasting TimeLaziness or procrastination • 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13 (NIV)

Wasting Time“Busy Beaver” syndrome • Luke 10:38-42

Instead of wasting time being unfruitful, considering making an investment of time

• The best investment of your life is spending time pleasing and serving God

• When you invest time with God, you always get a return

• Think about it as tithing your time