Syncing Up With God: Kingdom-Focused Time Management
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published under the title “In Sync With God: Kingdom-Focused Time Management” in Evangel Magazine in the 2020 October edition (www.evangelmagazine.com). The author, Josiah Smith, serves as Campus Pastor of Northpoint Bible College & Seminary in Haverhill, Massachusetts. His book, Along the Way: A Beginner’s Guide to Journeying with Jesus in the Kingdom, and other resources are available at his website josiahsmithonline.com. Josiah has been a member of Journey since its inception and continues to champion the Journey values in the ministries he leads.
The way we use our time is a reflection of what we value most—be it friendships, career, family, or something else. Simply put, we invest time in things that matter most to us.
In Matthew 6:33, Jesus said, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (NKJV). What does this mean for followers of Jesus who seek to steward their time well?
It would be easy to get into specifics about time-management techniques and give a few pointers on how to make a schedule, stick to your to-do list, and prioritize the big stuff before the small stuff. While all this could be helpful, let’s dig a little deeper and see if we can uncover some practical pointers along the way.
As Christ-followers, what we value should be shaped by what God values. And the way we currently manage our time likely tells us a lot about what we believe about God’s nature. If we seek God’s kingdom first, His values will drive our investments. What we believe to be true about God will determine how we allocate life’s resources, including time.
- If I believe God values hard work above rest, I may be found burning the candle at both ends thinking I am spending my time in a God-honoring way.
- If I believe God to be whimsical and carefree, I may often “go with the flow” and feel no need to create or commit to a schedule and to-do list.
In my college years, I was fairly meticulous about guarding my time. Having served on a local church staff the year prior, I entered my freshman year of college feeling laser-focused. I planned to get in, learn what I needed to learn, get my degree, and get back to the “real work” of changing the world in church ministry.
I distributed the majority of my time between classes, chapel services, and reading, studying, and praying. I remember declining opportunities to go out to dinner or watch a movie with friends choosing instead to spend that time studying. It’s not that I was unfriendly or a social recluse; hanging out just didn’t fit with my formula for success.
Time, however, has a way of changing us. Having now served in youth ministry, college ministry, and planting and pastoring a church, I still have the same amount of time, but I choose to steward it a little differently. I’ve realized my values then only painted part of the picture of God’s character and a few colors were missing from my palate. Here are a few qualities I am learning about God that have caused me to rethink how I distribute my time.
God’s Ultimate Prize is People
When it comes to God’s highest priority it’s hard to argue that anything trumps His human creation. God really, really loves people (cue John 3:16). Despite persistent rejection and rebellion since creation, God continues to pursue a loving relationship with humanity.
When Jesus emptied Himself of glory and lived in human skin as one of us (cf. Philippians 2:6-7), He spent His days with people. Yes, He spent time alone with His Father, and it is evident that He studied extensively as a young person; but when it comes to His three years of public ministry, Jesus was constantly among the people. He didn’t hide away avoiding outcasts, troublemakers, or crowds. He willingly met people where they were.
While it is critical to have alone time and time set aside to learn and study, may we take a cue from the Son of God Himself and realize as long as we are loving people we are never wasting our time.
God Places High Value on Joy, Celebration, and Fun!
This is a most wondrous discovery! God is not an anxious, task-driven deity trying really hard to accomplish His plan on the earth and worried something might be left undone. He rules from Heaven joyfully and with ease, doing “whatever He pleases” (Psalm 115:3 NKJV). He reigns confidently and without regret. God actually enjoys being God! Unfortunately, many of us live burdened by a view of God that causes us to lead serious and somber lives, struggling to realize the joy of the Lord and the gladness with which He leads us.
Consider the following passages:
- Romans 14:17; “The kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit” (NIV).
- Zephaniah 3:17; “The Lord your God is in your midst… He takes great delight in you… He shouts for joy over you” (NET).
- Philippians 4:4; Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! (NIV).
It is amazing how many times God commanded Israel to throw parties. He mandated that the nation have celebrations several times throughout the year. One such celebration came when Israel had finished rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem, Nehemiah commanded the people, “Do not mourn or weep,” but instead rejoice and celebrate because “the joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10 NIV).
Joy is a defining quality of God’s kingdom. Yet, when it comes to budgeting our time, joy often takes a back seat. Celebration is not at the forefront of our calendars. There’s too much to be done, too much on our plates for us to slow down and enjoy ourselves. But if God is having a good time ruling His Kingdom, shouldn’t we have a good time participating in it?
God Prioritizes Rest and Refreshment
God is not as “driven” as many of us think He is. He is purposeful but not frantic. He’s not in a hurry to get something done. He loves to work and create, but He equally values rest.
After creating the world in six days, God “rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done” (Genesis 2:2 NKJV). God didn’t need a break after speaking this world into existence. It wasn’t hard for Him. God rested even when He didn’t need rest, giving us an example to follow. He rested knowing we would need the same but would too often resist it.
The Lord commanded the Israelites, “Work shall be done for six days, but the seventh day shall be a holy day for you, a Sabbath of rest to the Lord” (Exodus 35:2 NKJV). When they failed to honor the Sabbath, God let them go into exile where they had no choice but to rest and let their homeland rest.
Looking again at the life of Jesus, He was never in a hurry. He never got worked up to a state of frenzy. He took time away to pray and be refreshed (Luke 5:16). He withdrew to the Sea of Galilee with His disciples (Mark 3:7). Jesus ministered from a place of rest and refreshment.
Responding to God’s Priorities
How should understanding these qualities/values of God change the way we think about our schedules?
As we come to value what God values, we invest our time in a way that reflects His nature. For some, this may mean working harder. For others, it may mean being more intentional about scheduling rest. Or it may mean prioritizing celebration and hosting a party.
Seek God’s Kingdom, learn of His nature, and invest your time in ways that challenge the people around you to know who God is.
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