HOW TO USE YOUR TIME WISELY

TEXT- Ecclesiastes 3:1

INTRODUCTION

THROUGHOUT THIS LAST WEEK ON THE RADIO, TELEVISION AND IN THE NEWSPAPERS WE HAVE SEEN THIS PAST YEAR REVIEWED OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

AS WE LOOK OVER THE PAST YEAR WE CAN SEE WHERE WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED MANY DIFFERENT THINGS FOR THE LORD, YET ON THE OTHER HAND I AM SURE THAT EACH ONE OF US COULD AGREE THAT WE COULD HAVE ACCOMPLISHED MORE THAN WE DID FOR THE CAUSE OF CHRIST.

A NEWSLETTER OF THE PROCRASTINATORS' CLUB OF AMERICA IS PRINTED EVERY SO OFTEN AND IS FREE TO MEMBERS OF THEIR ORGANIZATION. A SAMPLE FROM ONE EDITION READS:

"PLEASE FORGIVE US THIS ONE TIME, BUT THE PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE, WHICH WAS PLANNED TO APPEAR IN THIS SPACE, MISSED OUR LATE DEADLINE, AND WE PROMISE TO MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO GET A MESSAGE PREPARED IN TIME FOR OUR NEXT ISSUE, IF AND WHEN IT COMES OUT, PROVIDED WE'RE NOT PUSHED OR RUSHED INTO IT AND END UP WITH A MESSAGE AS INFERIOR AS THIS ONE WOULD HAVE BEEN."

SOMETIMES PROCRASTINATION IS FUNNY. BUT AS GENESIS 19 REVEALS, A DELAYED RESPONSE TO GOD'S COMMANDS IS SERIOUS BUSINESS.

GENESIS 19:16  WHEN HE HESITATED, THE MEN GRASPED HIS HAND AND THE HANDS OF HIS WIFE AND OF HIS TWO DAUGHTERS AND LED THEM SAFELY OUT OF THE CITY, FOR THE LORD WAS MERCIFUL TO THEM.

WHEN THE LORD TOLD LOT TO GET HIS FAMILY OUT OF SODOM AND RUN FOR HIS LIFE, HE ACTED APPROPRIATELY AT FIRST (V.14). BUT THEN HE LINGERED IN THE CITY UNTIL THE ANGELS OF GOD GRABBED HIS HAND AND TOOK HIM OUT (V.16). IF THE LORD HAD NOT MERCIFULLY OVERRULED LOT'S PROCRASTINATION, HE AND HIS ENTIRE FAMILY WOULD HAVE BEEN DESTROYED.

AS WE LOOK BACK OVER THE YEAR I WONDER HOW MANY OF US FAILED TO ACCOMPLISH SOMETHING BECAUSE WE KEPT PUTTING IT OFF UNTIL SOME OTHER TIME?

I KNOW I DID, AND I AM SURE THAT IF YOU EXAMINED YOUR OWN LIFE YOU WOULD FIND SOMETHING THAT YOU FAILED TO DO BECAUSE YOU PUT IT OFF UNTIL SOME OTHER TIME.

THIS MORNING I WOULD LIKE US TO CONSIDER HOW IT IS TIME TO DO FIVE THINGS IN THIS NEW YEAR AHEAD.