Page 45 - Faith-Based Workbook 8-27-18

TOPUCU Adult Faith-Based Workbook Lesson 6: Part 2

LESSON 6: PART 2
"Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the
HOW DO YOU SPEND YOUR 168?
best use of time." — Colossians 4:5 (ESV)

the positive change I want to see in my life. watch television for four hours every day.
That’s the challenge! Think about it: 4 hours a day is 28 hours
a week or one sixth of your entire life
Let’s take a look at it from a different angle. spent doing a meaningless, nonproductive "And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season
Idle time is usually set in opposition to hard activity. Remember, this program is about we will reap, if we do not give up." — Galatians 6:9 (ESV)
work. And as we discussed in earlier lessons, transformation. You can’t be transformed
most people have set their minds to accept by giving one-sixth of your life away to In part 1 of this lesson you learned the value hope in the Lord will renew their strength.
the easy route because it feels good; it’s activities that don’t produce growth. This is of time. You also learned that there are They will soar on wings like eagles; they will
pleasurable. When you think of pleasure, a great place to remind you of the lesson on only so many hours allotted to each of our run and not grow weary, they will walk and
one of the words that might come to mind pain. Is it going to be painful transforming lives. In this part of the lesson you are going not be faint.” (NIV) Yet we still sometimes
is “amusement.” Now, if we break down this the habit of how you spend your time into to learn how to persist as you anxiously act hastily and end up missing the benefits
word into pieces there is a very powerful doing things you don’t want to do? Yes, it is. anticipate your desired results. Then we’re of laying out the plan and following through
symbolism about the dangers of idle time. Hopefully, by now this program has taught going to discuss a technique you can use on it. It’s like watching someone hit the
An Internet search for the word “muse” will you that almost all change is painful, but to manage your busy times and more elevator button a dozen times thinking that
reveal numerous definitions, but several of at the end comes the reward. The sacrifice importantly maximize your down time. the elevator will get there any quicker.
them point to the word “think.” You will also is worth it. Let’s get to it.
find that if you do a search for the suffix The techniques and formulas you’re learning
“ment” you’ll see that it means “action.” Lastly, All of us have time that we waste. You will Whatever your habit change or goal is it through this Starter Program will help you
an examination of “a” as a prefix will reveal a learn in part 2 of this lesson that having won’t happen overnight. And this Starter along the way, but the bottom line is: true
number of definitions that are synonymous some amusement time is fine, but you Program never promised that it would. There lasting transformation takes time. “And let
with another prefix: “un.” Simply put, need to discipline yourself to limit that idle are no shortcuts or magic pills. Proverbs us not grow weary of doing good, for in due
“amusement” is the “action of unthinking.” time. You will also be taught some secrets 14:23 says, “In all toil there is profit, but season we will reap, if we do not give up.”
and tools champions use to take advantage mere talk tends only to poverty.” (ESV) Galatians 6:9 (ESV)
Now this is not to say that you can’t have of every minute of the day and how they No matter what you’ve heard, no one is an
time for amusement; but rather that you get themselves to do what they don’t want instant-success. No one wakes up in the Accepting that truth is an important step
have to plan time for amusement and do to do so they can become what they want morning and says, “By the end of today, I’ll to achieving success. The second step is
it in reasonable moderation. You can’t just to become. be fit, in shape and have better eating habits,” learning how to use time wisely. There
hang out 4 or 5 nights a week. You can’t is a principle called Parkinson’s Law. The
or, “By the end of the day, I’ll be a successful
famous person,” or, “By the end of the day I’ll definition is, “work expands so as to fill the
have dropped that bad habit.” It’s impractical time available for its completion.” In other
NOTES: to believe any of that. But somehow, so many words, it simply explains the difference

of us believe that if success doesn’t come between an efficient life and an effective
instantly or in the timing we expect, then it’s life. Let’s take a look at an analogy. Imagine
not meant to be. a one-room apartment. It’s easy to take care
of. If you’re having company it doesn’t take
We find ourselves hoping and wishing much time to prepare and afterwards clean-
for change to happen immediately and up is fairly simple. Day in and day out life
sometimes we even act unreasonably in goes on and you do what needs to be done.
hopes of hurrying things along. We talk It’s an efficient apartment. Most people live
about God’s timing and waiting on Him and an efficient life. But Parkinson’s Law explains
being patient. And we read scriptures like that you can live an effective life. We’ve all
Isaiah 40:31 that says, “…but those who had an effective day, haven’t we? Let’s say

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