Time For God

    We all wish we had more time. This is the one area of life that all are truly created equal for we all have the same amount of time allotted in a day. 24 hours a day equals 168 hours a week. The question then isn't how much time do we have, but rather, how do we spend the time we have?
   
Consider the following:
(The figures are not intended to fit every schedule. It is an approximation.)

168 hours per week

50 hours working per week
49 hours sleeping per week
31 hours spent with family, friends, and fun per week
10 hours eating per week
10 hours preparing for work/church per week
7 hours in prayer and Bible study per week
6 hours in traffic per week
5 hours in church per week

Work and Sleep
The Bible is quite clear concerning the need for work. Paul told Timothy, "But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel." (1 Timothy 5:8)
Most work more than they need to in order to keep up with their neighbours rather than honouring God.

The Bible also speaks about our need for sleep.The Psalmist said, "It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep." (Psalm 127:2)
 Most medical professionals indicate that 6-8 hours of sleep each night is sufficient.

99 hours have been consumed.

Family, Friends, and Fun
The Bible directs us to spend time with our families, but not in the way we do. The Bible emphasises the need to teach our children the Word of God by word (Deuteronomy 6:5-8) and deed (Proverbs 23:26). Family time today usually consists of television, games, and amusements in general. Very little time is spent instructing and demonstrating the Word of God to our family.

"A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother."  (Proverbs 18:24) It's difficult to show oneself friendly without spending time with friends. Although, our time with friends typically doesn't include the "friend that sticketh closer than a brother".

31 mores hours gone
130 hours have been consumed

Eating
We are all keen at meal time. Obviously food is required but the amount of food taken is usually beyond that which is required. Some will say that 10 hours a week for meals is too much. Maybe, but we do tend to linger around the table at times. Job had the right perspective when he said, "Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food." (Job 23:12)
Spiritual nourishment far outweighs physical nourishment.

10 more hours gone
140 hours have been consumed

Preparing for Work and Church
Everyone should look presentable when leaving the house. We should be modest and clean. However, shouldn't we be more concerned about our spiritual appearance before God and man?

10 more hours gone
150 hours have been consumed

Prayer and Bible Study
7 hours. Really? I've been extremely generous on this point. Does one spend this much time in prayer before the Lord and in the Word of God? I dare say it's more like 30 minutes at best. What does the Bible say about  the matter?
"Pray without ceasing." (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
"But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night." (Psalm 1:2)

7 more hours gone
157 hours have been consumed


Traffic
Not much to be said here. It is what it is. How does one spend one's time on the road???

6 more hours gone
163 hours consumed

Church
I've allotted 5 hours for corporate worship in the House of God. This kind of generosity borders on a complete lack of stewardship on my part. Churches around the world are cutting out services altogether in complete disobedience of the Word of God.
"Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. " (Hebrews 10:25)

5 more hours gone
168 hours consumed

Conclusion
We spend more time with family, friends, fun and food than with our Father in Heaven. Our problem isn't that we do not have time for God, but rather, that we do not want to spend our time with God.