A Precious Commodity in Hell
The sermon emphasizes the importance of making the most of our time and opportunities, as neglecting them can lead to great misery.
Thomas Brooks emphasizes the urgency of making the most of our time and opportunities for spiritual growth, warning against the trivial pursuits that distract us from our true purpose. He illustrates that neglecting these 'golden seasons' leads to misery, as time is a precious commodity that many would pay dearly for in hell. Brooks urges listeners to honor God, strengthen their faith, and prepare for eternal life, reminding them that every moment counts in the race of faith.
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Most men spend the greatest part of their time
on things that are that are of little or no value;
as Domitian, the Roman emperor, who spent his
time in catching of flies.
Make a speedy and a thorough improvement of all
opportunities of grace and mercy. Do not trifle
away your golden seasons. You have much
work to do in a short time. You have . . .
a God to honor,
a race to run,
a crown to win,
a hell to escape,
a heaven to obtain,
weak graces to strengthen,
strong corruptions to weaken,
many temptations to withstand,
afflictions to bear,
many mercies to improve,
and many services to perform, etc.
He who neglects a golden opportunity, does
but create to himself a great deal of misery.
"Time," says Bernard, "would be a precious
commodity in hell, and the use of it most
gainful; where for one day a man would give
ten thousand worlds if he had them."
When men trifle away their precious time, and golden
opportunities, playing and toying with this vanity
and that vanity; we may ask whether these men
have--no Christ, no Scripture, no promises, no
blessed experiences, no hopes of heavenly glories
--to enjoy and take delight in?
Sermon Outline
- The Value of Time
- The Importance of Improving Opportunities
- The Consequences of Neglecting Opportunities
- He who neglects a golden opportunity creates misery
- Time would be a precious commodity in hell
Key Quotes
“Time would be a precious commodity in hell, and the use of it most gainful.” — Thomas Brooks
“He who neglects a golden opportunity, does but create to himself a great deal of misery.” — Thomas Brooks
Application Points
- Make a speedy and thorough improvement of all opportunities of grace and mercy.
- Prioritize your time by focusing on what is truly important and valuable.
- Do not trifle away your golden seasons, but instead use them to serve God and achieve your goals.