(Sermon outline by Jim Whitfield, pastor of The First Pentecostal Holiness Church, Goldsboro, NC. for 23 years. Rev. Whitfield also serves as the Assistant Superintendent of the North Carolina Conference.)

“To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” There is an opportune time to do things for everything on earth.” - The Message

INTRODUCTION:
Benjamin Franklin said, “Time is what life is made of.” When we give people or project’s our time, we are giving them a portion of our life. People who value their life use their time wisely. The quality of our life will be influenced by the quality of our time management. Managing our time properly is the key to our future. The rest of this year will come and go whether we do anything with it or not.

I. TIME IS A STRANGE THING

A. The better we use our time, the more time we seem to have.

1. People who waste a lot of time never have enough time.
2. Teddy Roosevelt said, “Nine tenths of wisdom consist of being wise in time.”
3. Our time must be managed properly and wisely.

B. We cannot save a day for another day.

1. We cannot deposit 24 hours to be used later.
2. We either use it wisely or lose it foolishly and when time is gone it is gone forever.
3. Time is not a promise; it is a gift.
4. People who get a lot done use their time wisely.
   

II. WAYS WE CAN USE OUR TIME WISELY.

A. We should tithe a portion of time to God exclusively.

1. At least 10% of our money and 14% of our time should go to God and His cause while all of out time and money should be used for good and God’s glory.
2. The thing that gives value to our gifts of tithe and time is the fact that both gifts cost us a portion of our life.
3. When we give to God money and time, we are giving Him the value of the portion of our life we used to be able to present the time and money to Him.
4. We cannot use time or money in any better way than to give it to God’s cause and glory.

III. WAYS WE CAN GET THE MOST OF OUT TIME.

A. Manage your time from a “To do list.”

1. Focus on the task of highest value first.
2. Tackle your most difficult or unpleasant task in your most productive hours.
3. Don’t’ be consumed by detail and drudgery.
4. Be selective in what takes up your time.
5. Learn to say no to projects that take you away from your priorities.

B. Learn to delegate.

1. Do only what you alone can do.
2. Turn it loose but check on it.
3. We don’t have to do everything in order to have vale in our life.
4. Delegate tasks that others can do.

C. Watch for time wasters – time consumers.

1. Telephone: set aside a block of time for phone calls.
2. People: Ministering to people by appointments will enable you to minister to more people in less time.
3. If we do not manage our time, someone else will manage our time for us.
4. Avoid distractions from priorities as much as possible.

CONCLUSION:
Structuring our time increases our energy level and reduces our stress level. Lou Holtz said, “Preparation reduces pressure and lack of preparation increases pressure.”
We owe it to God, our families and ourselves to be organized and efficient. “There is an opportune time to do things, a right time for everything on earth.” - The Message

Last update on 8/14/07
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