Our Tragic Waste of Time
We must make the most of our time, as it is a precious gift from God and can be taken away from us at any moment.
A.W. Tozer emphasizes the critical importance of time management in his sermon 'Our Tragic Waste of Time,' reminding us that while God grants us gifts freely, we are accountable for how we use them, particularly our limited time. He reflects on the fleeting nature of life, urging listeners to recognize the value of each moment and to avoid wasting time on trivial pursuits. Tozer warns that wasted time is irretrievable and encourages us to make the most of our days, as we will ultimately answer for our stewardship before Christ. He calls for a sense of urgency in our actions, reminding us that we must work while we still have the opportunity.
Text
One thing taught large in the Holy Scriptures is that while God gives His gifts freely, He will require a strict accounting of them at the end of the road. Each man is personally responsible for his store, be it large or small, and will be required to explain his use of it before the judgment seat of Christ. . . .
First, there is time. None of us has much of it. The crow that flaps across the meadow will probably live longer than the oldest one of us. The tree that shades the sleepy cow in the pasture may have looked down on our grandfather when he was a boy, and it may remain to watch the passing of our children?s children. And that we have so small a store of time constitutes a powerful reason for our making the most of what we have. Yet how many hours have we spent doing nothing or doing the wrong thing. Our cynical waste of precious time could be a reason for our not having more of it given to us, who knows? Jesus once said, ?Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.?
Time wasted is lost beyond recall. While we sympathize with the emotional content of the old song, ?Backward, turn backward, O time, in your flight,? it is yet hard to conceive of a more futile appeal. Time does not run backward. The old man does not become young, the young man becomes old. So it has always been and so it will ever be. The bird of time flies past us and is gone; ?the leaves of life keep falling one by one, the wine of life keeps oozing drop by drop.? We must work while it is called today.
Sermon Outline
- The Value of Time
- The Tragic Waste of Time
- The Importance of Making the Most of Time
- We must work while it is called today
- We should make the most of every moment
Key Quotes
“Time wasted is lost beyond recall.” — A.W. Tozer
“The bird of time flies past us and is gone; the leaves of life keep falling one by one, the wine of life keeps oozing drop by drop.” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- We should make the most of every moment and prioritize our time wisely.
- We are personally responsible for our use of time and will be accountable for it before God.
- We should work while it is called today and not put off until tomorrow what we can do today.