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...For Every Great Work
Volume I: Week 3
April 2007
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April's Question:
Are you living a driven life or a directed life?
In our culture, when we are asked the question,"how are you?", what is our typical response? "Busy!" More often than not when talking with believers about Christians At Work, they get a panicked look on their face and out of their mouths come the words, "I don't have time!" After being on the receiving end of this more times than I can count...I want to explore what we Christians have done with TIME! And what is TIME exactly and who owns it? |
In his book Invisible War, Dr. Donald Barnhouse defines time as "the battle of wills". There are three wills; our fleshly will, satan's will and God's will. It's the battle of these three wills that causes time to exist. In other words, it is Barnhouse's contention that when we are in God's total will there is no time. Of course, we will not be able to experience "no time" until we're in heaven...eternity. But his definition of time should makes us stop and think about how we are living our lives and the "busier" or "driven" we are, who's will are we living under? Do we really realize we are fighting a battle on two humongous fronts? And when we immediately reply "I don't have time" without due diligence and consulting God (oops, this will take time) on the matter, we may have just lost that round in the battle?!
God is Faithful
In the book Selling Among Wolves by Michael Pink, he tells the story of Sally, the top sales women in a Christian radio station in Tennessee. Sally went to her sales manager and requested every Wednesday afternoon off to spend time with God in prayer. Her boss wasn't thrilled with this idea, after all she was the top sales person and without her sales he would not meet the station's monthly sales quota. Time is money! (Who do you suppose created that saying?) After further discussion, the sales manager gave his blessing and for the next four Wednesday afternoons Sally faithfully spent the entire afternoon with God.
At the end of the month Sally's sales had doubled over the same month the year before. In fact, she had the best sales month she had ever had in her career at the station. Why should we be surprised?
Driven (Energy) Towards What?
A lot has changed in the 2,000 years since Jesus. We have cars, cell phones, the Internet, mass transportation, health care, and so forth. But the funny thing is--not funny; sad, really--what motivates us, drives us, and sometimes consumes us, hasn't really changed all that much.
The danger is this: God comes into our lives, changes us, creates a new heart in us, cleans up some of the mess we've made; and all of a sudden, we look around and say "Darn, I'm good! Look at what I've done and look at all that I am doing (even for the Kingdom)! We forget the owner. We come to think of the vineyard as something we own. The church, our jobs, our money our possessions, and yes even time!
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:2
EQuipment
3 Practial ways to be EQuipt!
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1. Take note of the "things" of life. What is really consuming too much of your time and keeping you from spending time with God?
"If a man would walk with God, if a man would live a holy life, if a man would assume authority and hold it down, because God holds him down, he has to know what it is to pay the price of a closed door...alone with God, on his knees...For the greatest transactions of a man's experience are made, not in a church, but behind closed doors."
Victorious Christian Living by Alan Redpath |
| 3. Your mind is like the control center of your body. It helps direct your thoughts, your actions and your emotions. Choosing to renew your mind is the key to making that change complete. Memorize our key verse:
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:2 | |
