WASTING TIME

The focus of this study is to know what the Bible says about wasting time, the reasons why people
waste their time, and the reward of a diligent and hardworking person.

Background scope and history:

- People waste time when they focus their time and energy to unproductive and useless things (ex.
Watching the television or using the Facebook or other social media all day) instead of building
a strong relationship with God and doing acts that are pleasing to Him.
- One of the problems that hinder the growth of many people and churches is the existence of
unproductive members. Unproductive members are those people that do nothing to promote or
assist in the development and growth of the church. . They are not right with God because they
are failing to grow or to contribute anything to the church and in spreading his Word. In the
parable of the barren fig tree, we can see that people who are unproductive (i.e., fail to grow and
produce fruit) are discarded by the Lord – discarded, in the sense of being rejected as useless and
unacceptable to God.

What:

Sometimes we feel like time runs so fast; that a whole day can slip away and nothing can be
accomplished. What does the bible say about wasting our time? The bible reminds us to be a wise steward
of our time. (Ephesians 5:15-16 says, “Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men, but as
wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.”).

We must not take for granted the time that we have. We must always use our time to do good
and to building a strong and lasting relationship with God. With all the distractions that we encounter in
our lives, sometimes it is difficult to focus on God. Thankfully, our God is a loving, patient and kind father.
as we spend more time studying God’s Word and praying, God teaches and shows us how to live a fruitful
and productive life. Because of this, Prioritize your relationship with God by setting spiritual goals for
yourself, spending some time with God every day, and living by the tenets of your faith. What is your
priority in life? Is it God? Place your focus to God because Time is precious. (1) Col 3:2 Set your minds on
things that are above, not on things that are on earth. (2) Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of
God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

 How to people waste their time?

- Physical – Neglecting work and duties.

- Mental – Common among kids in school. Daydreaming, thinking about unproductive things.
- Spiritual – Neglecting to pray, read Scripture, use God-given talents, etc.
  What are the REASONS WHY PEOPLE WASTE THEIR TIME?

1. Distractions created by social media: Spending too much time surfing the internet and checking
our social media is bad for out spiritual growth. Hours and hours past just by spending time
checking our social media. It makes us forget the most important thing that we should be doing
(Praying, Reading the bible and Going to church). Think of how much more people could
accomplish if the time spent browsing Instagram was focused on self-improvement.

2. Lack of plan: Time management is the key in having a productive life. Without a plan, the day is
filled with randomness. People end up jumping from task to task without any real direction.
Instead of spending out precious time reading the bible and following the Word of God, It’s much
easier to get caught up in distractions if we don’t have plan and make a schedule.

3. Discouragement: People sometimes feel like nothing goes according to their plan. An
unanswered prayer discourages people from talking to God. It is a sign of unfaithfulness and not
trusting God. Thus, instead of talking and trusting God, people hide in the dark and choose to act
solely according to their own will.

 What DOES THE BIBLE say about WASTING TIME?

God's Word makes it very clear that we are instructed to work hard and put our best effort forward. The
Bible, especially in the wisdom-filled book of Proverbs, speaks often of the cause and effect relationship
of hard work and rewards as well as laziness and ruin. ( Col 3:23-24 Whatever you do, work at it with all
your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an
inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.)

1. Wasting our time to unproductive things results to poverty

- Proverbs 20:13 If you love sleep, you will end in poverty. Keep your eyes open, and there will
be plenty to eat!
- Proverbs 21:5 good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to
poverty.
- Proverbs 21:25 Despite their desires, the lazy will come to ruin, for their hands refuse to work.
- Proverbs 20:4 the slacker does not plow during planting season; at harvest time he looks,
and there is nothing.

2. We are to put off laziness and we are to be hard workers.

- Proverbs 10:4-5 Lazy hands bring poverty, but hard-working hands lead to wealth. Whoever
harvests during summer acts wisely, but the son who sleeps during harvest is disgraceful.
- Proverbs 13:4 The appetite of the sluggard craves but gets nothing, but the desire of the
diligent will be abundantly satisfied.
- Proverbs 12:27 The lazy do not roast any game, but the diligent feed on the riches of the hunt.
- Proverbs 12:24 Work hard and become a leader; be lazy and become a slave
 3. Wasting our time hinders us from receiving the blessings of God:
- Proverbs 10:26-27 Lazy people irritate their employers, like vinegar to the teeth or smoke in
the eyes. Fear of the LORD lengthens one’s life, but the years of the wicked are cut short
- 2 Thes 3:10-13 for even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone
is not willing to work, let him not eat. For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not
busy at work, but busybodies. Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord
Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.

4. Wasting our time or being lazy destroys our relationship with God: by not giving time for prayer
and devotion and using our talent and skill to serve God, we remove ourselves in the love and
mercy of God.

https://biblereasons.com/laziness/

 What DOES THE BIBLE say about WORKING HARD AND DOING IT NOW INSTEAD OF WASTING
TIME?
Idle hands never get anything done. God looks down upon laziness, but He shows with
hard work you can accomplish many things. When you’re in God’s will God will strengthen you
daily and help you.

1. Serve the Lord in your work by working hard for Him

- Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord
Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
- Colossians 3:23-24 Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the
Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your
reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ
- Romans 12:11-12 Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in
our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying

2. Don’t just talk about it. Instead act.

- Proverbs 14:23-24 All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty. The
wealth of the wise is their crown, but the folly of fools yields folly.
- Philippians 2:14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing.

3. Hardworking people act with diligent hands

- Proverbs 28:19-20 A hard worker has plenty of food, but a person who chases fantasies ends
up in poverty. The trustworthy person will get a rich reward, but a person who wants quick
riches will get into trouble
- Proverbs 10:4-5 Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth. He who gathers
crops in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.
 4. We must never work hard in wickedness.
- Proverbs 13:11 Dishonest money dwindles away, but whoever gathers money little by little
makes it grow.

https://biblereasons.com/hard-work/

 WHAT ARE THE REWARDS OF PRODUCTIVE PERSON?

1. abundance of profit and promotion:

- Proverbs 10:4-5 Lazy hands bring poverty, but hard-working hands lead to wealth. Whoever
harvests during summer acts wisely, but the son who sleeps during harvest is disgraceful.
- Proverbs 21:5 “The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to
poverty .”
2. Leadership & Influence
- Proverbs 12:24 diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in forced labor.

3. Authority: The diligent man, who works hard and intelligently, will be promoted to serve in higher
and greater capacities. He will not have to find work before unknown, or obscure, men…seeking
work wherever he can find it.
- Proverbs 22:29 (CEB) Do you see people who work skillfully? They will work for kings but not
work for lowly people.

WHO:

 WHO ARE AFFECTED BY THIS?

1. To those who have an outward Christian life that is grossly disproportionate to what they
practice in private.

The Bible warns that we have to watch both our private and spiritual life continually to make sure
our actions align with the Word of God. Christianity to most people today may be associated with
going to church on Sunday, or being known for always having a timely Scripture ready to go,
but becoming a practicing Christian disciple is much more than this. Going to church just to show
others that we are Christians is not what God wants us to do to show our love for him. we should
not be wasting or time to unproductive things but instead devote our time in building a strong
relationship with God.

2. To those who doesn’t make a plan on how they will spend their time

Time is fleeting and only God knows how much time we have in this world. We must always make
it a habit to be productive and share the word of God to unbelievers.
WHY

This topic is relevant today because our culture distracts us from our responsibilities. Being a
productive person involves not only knowing and doing our responsibilities in our family, work and school
but also our responsibilities as Christians. We are not born just to live in earth. God made as because we
have a purpose in life. Just like how God created the world, he did not waste his time doing nothing.
Every day he created something brilliant and majestic that we enjoy today. As for us, we should not just
sit in our couch watching “eat bulaga”  and expect that God’s blessing and prosperity will be upon us.
We Christians have the responsibility of sharing and ministering His Word.

CONCLUSION

James 4:14 (ESV) yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are
a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.

Psalm 39:4 "LORD, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are
numbered--how fleeting my life is.

How do we spend each day of our lives? What are the things in our lives that take up most of our
time and keep us from being productive? If we were to devote all our time to unproductive things such as
watching television and surfing the internet instead of preparing ourselves for the coming of Christ by
building a lasting relationship with God and sharing his Word so that many can be saved, how much more
effective might we be in the Kingdom of God?