"Three Ways to Waste Time"

by WXAN & KMHM General Manager, Doug Apple

This article is for you productive people.  You like to get results – and you hate to waste time.  Some people squander their time, but not you.  You are a rainmaker, a producer, a hard worker that gets things done.  This little article will help you avoid three major time wasters.

1.  Plant Weeds

Who would do something so stupid?  Who would actually take the time to plant weeds?  But we all do, when we sow bad seed.  It wastes time now, because we could have been sowing good seed instead.  And it wastes time later, when we have to take time to pull the weeds we planted.

“A man reaps what he sows.”  Galatians 6 says we plant weeds when we seek to please our own sinful nature.  We plant good seed when we seek to please God and to love all people, especially our fellow Christians.    

Are you wasting time?  Are you planting weeds?  Look at your seeds – your thoughts, words and actions.  Are you seeking to please God, or just seeking to please yourself?  This will sound illogical, but it’s true.  When you seek to please yourself…you won’t.

2.  Build On Sand

Nobody would be so stupid – nobody would spend a lot of time and money to put up a structure on such a poor foundation as sand.  It would be a ridiculous waste of time, because eventually the building would break apart.

The same is true for our lives – and what is a proper foundation to build our lives on?  The words of Jesus.  In Matthew 7 Jesus said, “Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”

Sometimes Jesus’ words seem impractical, like He wants us to do things the hard way.  Actually it is the hard way – to build on rock.  But it’s the best way.  Anything less, in the long run, is a complete waste of time.

 3.  Put Cash in a Purse With Holes In It  

You work hard all week, and then comes payday – cash in hand for a job well done.  Would you put it in a purse with a hole in it?  What if all your money fell out?  It would mean your work all week was a complete waste of time – in the end you have nothing to show for it.

That’s what it’s like when we work, then use the money for our own pleasures instead of using it to please the Lord, and carry out His will in the world.  Haggai 1:7 says, “You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.”  Haggai also says, “Give careful thought to your ways.  You have planted much, but have harvested little.  You eat, but never have enough.  You drink, but never have your fill.  You put on clothes, but are not warm.”

Why?  Because God has a way of removing satisfaction from things.  Sure, we are free to do whatever we want.  But will it make us happy?  Will it bring the desired results?  Apart from God, the answer is no.  To do anything apart from God is a waste of time.

So there you have it, three big time wasters, all of which can be summed up like this.  Avoid wasting time - do everything God’s way, starting today!