WHAT’S HURTING US RIGHT NOW?
Overcrowded Lifestyles
We are continuing our study of some things that are subtlety weakening our spirituality and effectiveness. Thus far we have noticed: worldliness, materialism, and our fascination with fun. Today we want to look at another concern that you will see is related to each of these. We want to talk about overcrowded lifestyles.
This is one of those subjects I am very familiar with because I have a very busy life. I know I can improve my schedule. But if truth be known, this lesson probably applies to the overwhelming majority who are here if not all of us. I present it with the hope that if it does apply, we will be more aware of what we do and if God is where He ought to be in our lives.
A. This is a way of life in America
1. It is a problem in our society, and as such it often also affects the church (both our personal lives and our efforts to teach others because they are too busy).
2. In families with children there are sports, school, friends, entertainment, and hobbies and don’t forget family time.
3. In addition to this there is the health club, work, the 2nd job (usually to pay for our wants, our debts and our recreation), chores around the house, shopping, civic clubs, our favorite TV shows, computer time, and of course time to go to church (more for some than others).
4.
Many families today have to micro-manage their
time. They carry around planners, palm pilots and laptops to keep schedules.
We have cell phones and pagers for everyone in the family. Often when some type
of problem arises, schedules are thrown into chaos.
(NOTE – I am not saying that we should not use planners and communication. The
truth is that such can help us to accomplish more, remember what we have to do
[and prioritize] and even save time in many instances. My point is that such
can be a symptom of too much to do.)
5. One reason this is so is because of the amount of choices we are offered in America. And our inability (or lack of desire) to say no.
B. A dangerous problem for Christians
1. As we have been noting all week, we have the responsibility to put God first in our lives – Matthew 6:33. THIS IS NOT NEGOTIABLE! Matthew 22:37 says the first great commandment is to love God.
2. Consider Luke 10:41,42 with Mary and Martha.
3. One of the dangers is the fact that as with our possessions and recreation, many of the things we do are not wrong within themselves. It is the amount of time we spend in these pursuits where the concern needs to be.
4. But, unlike some other problems, we are fully aware of our extremely busy lifestyles.
5. Often, we try to diminish how serious the problem is by saying that it is “only temporary”.
a. But such usually is not the case. One “temporary” thing ends up taking longer and when it is completed it leads to another “temporary” thing.
b.
Meanwhile, we miss out on many opportunities that
we will never get back.
Consider the formative years of our children and developing a proper
relationship with our spouse.
ALSO, opportunities to teach friends and neighbors may cease.
c. We must guard against such becoming – “the cares of the world” that choke out the word of God in our lives, Matthew 13:22.
6.
Do we have a problem saying “no” when we are
presented with something we want to do?
Are we like children in a candy store?
Do we have a problem with self-discipline?
Do we rationalize that we have a right to do anything we want to
do?
AND believe there is a way to do everything we want to do without
our priorities suffering?
Do we really understand what it means to sacrifice?
A.
God often only gets the leftovers.
At times all that God gets is what is leftover AFTER we have our fun and do what
we think we have to do.
Consider Malachi 1:8, 13 to find out where this attitude can lead.
B.
God often gets put on the back burner.
What happens where there is a scheduling conflict?
Ask yourself what “gives”! Is it God or your pleasures and wants? Do you
choose to forsake worship to pursue your pleasures? What about other spiritual
things such as home Bible studies and regular prayers? Do you find these things
slipping away as your life becomes more filed with places to go and things to
do?
Jesus addressed this in Luke 9:57-62. Notice how there were men who believed in
Jesus and wanted to follow Him but they had things to take care of first.
Jesus’ message was one of priorities.
C. We fail to notice and assess our spirituality.
1. Our “busyness” keeps us so preoccupied that we do not take adequate time to assess our spiritual vitality. 2 Corinthians 13:5 is something we ought to do regularly. Do we have time to?
2.
The result of this is that we do not mature in the
faith, as we ought to.
Consider Hebrews 5:12-13 – you ought to be teachers.
2 Peter 3:18 – where we are told to grow.
D. Our Spiritual Effectiveness is also hindered.
1. We know that as Christians we have responsibilities to each other.
2. Because we have so much going on, we do not give the Lord’s work (or other things) the quality He deserves. Do we give adequate time to our lesson preparation? When we wait to the last minute our preparation will never be as good as it ought to be.
3. We don’t have time to evangelize, engage in spontaneous and regular hospitality, and tend to the needs of our brethren. Things that we WANT to do but because our time is so consumed there is not enough time left.
4.
How much do families suffer?
Do we as parents become too busy to “nurture” and “admonish” our children?
About 10 years ago, a team of researchers wanted to learn how much time
“middle class” fathers spent interacting and playing with their small children.
First they asked them how much time and the answer they got was 15-20 minutes a
day. To verify the claims they attached microphones to the shirts of the small
children. The results were not as the fathers estimated. The result was an
average of 37 SECONDS per day were spent with their children. They estimated
2.7 encounters averaging about 15 seconds each. Not very much time is it for
the one responsible for the command of Ephesians 6:4.
Do we become so busy that we do not have time for our spouses to strengthen our
marriages?
Do we keep our children so busy that they don’t have time for God in their lives
either.
And even in religion, do we become so busy trying to teach others that we
neglect our own families?
A. Ephesians 5:15-16 – we are to walk circumspectly (with wisdom) and redeem the time. Redeeming the time is exactly what we are discussing. Note also Colossians 4:5.
B. Consider the example of our Lord – He was very busy as He went about doing good (Acts 10:38, also Mark 6:30-32). He went from village to village, preaching and teaching. He taught His apostles and did great miracles. But He also found (and made) time to pray. Cf. – Mark 1:35; Luke 5:16, 6:12 – He prayed early, often and at times all night.
C. 1 Thessalonians 4:11 says, “that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you”.
1. The quiet life does not mean that you do as little as possible or are never heard from, but rather it could point to a simple, well managed life that IS different from the rest of the world.
2. In other words we take great care to make sure that the “cares of this world” don’t choke the word of God out of us (Matthew 13:22). Such is certainly the course of much of the rest of the world.
D. Matthew 5:8 speaks of being “pure in heart”. It is such that “shall see God.”
1. The word “pure” as used here means “being cleansed” (Thayer) and chaste.
2. Our hearts need to be cleansed, or unpolluted. This points to one who has a single purpose in his heart. He has his priorities straight and he will not let other things distract him from that purpose. This does not mean that he doesn’t do anything else (life is a balancing act) but simply that he keeps all things in perspective.
3.
See James 4:8 which speaks of the doubleminded
person. This would be one who is “divided in interest, namely between God
and the world.” (Thayer).
Note what the doubleminded is to do – “Draw near to God, … cleanse your
hands, … purify your hearts.” James 1:8 uses the same word in describing
unacceptable prayer.
4. Also note Titus 1:15 says, “To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled (polluted, contaminated – Thayer) and unbelieving nothing is pure…”
5. Where does our heart stand before God when it comes to our time (and everything else)?
A. First, Examine yourself!
a.
2 Corinthians 13:5 – we need to continually remind
ourselves of the need to do this. And at times we need to make DIFFERENT types
of examinations. In this case, we are looking at our time. How much time are
we spending doing what we ought to do? How much time are we wasting? Have
filled our lives so full with things to do that there is little or no time left
to really serve God.
Make a list to determine what you are actually doing and what you need to be
doing.
B. Prioritize
1.
We KNOW where our priorities HAVE to be.
Luke 14:26-33 - Note that 3 times Jesus describes who “cannot
be My disciple.”
2. But we also know that there are other things we HAVE to do and incorporate into our lives as Christians. We have responsibilities in many things. In fact it has been pointed out in times past the roles of being a Christian in 5 different areas of life – church, home, society, work and government. Each of these requires some time. The question is HOW MUCH?
3.
NOW, as you look at everything you are doing you
need to determine what you “have to” do, what you “need to” do and what you
“want to” do.
Then try to create a schedule that meets your needs. And Do NOT leave out some
of what you “want to” do (provided it is not wrong). You need rest and
recreation. THEN, find times where you can begin to add the things that you
“ought to” do more of.
C. Balance.
1. This is the key to dealing with our time. We have many things to do in this life. And if we manage them well, there WILL be some time left over.
2.
Of all the important things we HAVE to do, we
simply cannot afford to neglect ANY of them. We may do one or two things really
well while other things that need to be done are neglected or barely sustained.
If we keep this up, it will eventually lead to spiritual disaster.
Consider the words of Jesus to the Pharisees in Matthew 23:23 where He rebuked
them for not doing everything they needed to do. They were doing some things
“to the law” but they neglected other things.
3.
We need to realize that we MAY have to give up some
things we “want to" do.
An illustration: I like to juggle but I am not very good at it. I can throw up
one ball and catch it all day long. Add another one and I can keep it going.
Add a 3rd and with practice I can keep going a little while. But add
a 4th ball or more and they ALL come down.
When we have “too many irons in the fire” chances are we will not become very
good at any of them.
If we are willing to give up something, it will free up time to do the important
things that are being neglected.
And it will make it easier to balance our lives.
D. Build “margins” in you schedule. When possible leave a little extra time so that you can be flexible. Do you speed to where you are going because you don’t have enough time? Paul on many occasions was willing to go wherever he was needed and when called. His schedule was not rigid.
E. Learn to say, “No!” It is not always easy, but we have to learn to say “No!” when we know something will harm our priorities. Do you ever find your heart saying, “No” but your mouth says “Yes”? This is one way that we can get into trouble and our priorities will suffer.
Conclusion: In our week, we have 168 hours and that is it. How we use those hours this week and every week will have a direct bearing on how much we grow as Christians and how much this church will grow. The purpose of this lesson has been to encourage us to take a look at our lives and THINK about what we are doing with it. If we find that it is not what it ought to be, we need to repent and make up our minds once and for all to do better. Does God have the time He deserves in your life?