Time Stewards
In the USA, we have often become very protective of our time. We choose what we want to use it for - activities, sports, work, hobbies, etc. It is good to want to use that time in a good way, but are we really doing that? We look at work and the things we have to do. When it gets to our time, we want to make sure we don’t lose control of that. Didn’t God say He created for six days and then He rested? He tells us to keep the Sabbath free from work, doesn’t He? Well, yes and no. He did talk about a Sabbath rest, but the time was to be a rest unto the Lord. When we are trying to protect our time so that we don’t get overwhelmed, I don’t believe it included spiritual things. Yes, we shouldn’t work 24/7. Our body needs a rest, but not from the Lord. If we take a day off, it should not impede our faith, but increase our intimacy with God. On a day off, it is encouraged to gather in God’s house for worship. On this day of rest, we still lift our voices in prayer (maybe more so on this day). We should not neglect God’s word. We should not avoid serving others, just because it is Sabbath rest. After all, Jesus healed on the Sabbath. You see, too often, we make it into our day to do our activities, not the Lord’s. Yes, the Jewish people had/have many laws concerning what could and couldn’t be done on that day, but Jesus challenged whether it was man’s law or God’s command. After all, if we are to keep the Sabbath day holy, and Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath, isn’t keeping that day all about honoring Jesus? Am I telling you that you can’t watch sports on the weekend? You can watch it... just don’t consider it part of your Sabbath. For most people, the only time God is part of the sports game is when praying that your team wins or using God’s name in vain. Does God require that the Sabbath has to be a 24 hour period? In the Old Testament, yes. In the New Testament, every day is to be focused on the Lord. So, yes, you can enjoy each day doing some of the things that you enjoy. However, protecting your schedule and time in a way that makes it more important than our time with God is of great concern. We can retire from work, but we must never retire from God. Until we breathe our last breath, we should continue to honor Him. Father, forgive me for being stingy with my time, as if what I do is of greater importance than serving You. Amen