INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY
This is the second of five blog posts that present my takeaways from Charles Spurgeon’s sermon entitled “The Time is Short.” The link to the sermon is https://www.spurgeon.org/resource-library/sermons/the-time-is-short/#flipbook/. In this post, I will consider Spurgeon’s point that the expression “the time is short” from 1 Corinthians 7:29 warns us about how we are to use our time.
I hope you take the time to read this blog. But, if time is short for you, at least ponder the below questions.
Do I spend my time in such a way that demonstrates I greatly value my time?
Do I spend too much time in considering issues and topics that, even if biblical in nature, do not directly impact or equip me to directly impact people’s eternal destinies?
Do I spend a lot of time in idle chit chat?
Do I rest from my labors in such a way that refreshes by body and mind?
Do I spend my time with singleness of purpose? In other words, do I set my face like flint to carry out the work God has for me to do?
Do I spend my time in such a way that demonstrates I am owned by Jesus Christ, i.e., a slave of Jesus Christ?
DISCUSSION OF THE FIRST POINT – THE WARNING
Spurgeon says the expression “the time is short” from 1 Corinthians 7:29 warns us about how we are to use our time. As I see it, his guidance manifests itself in four parts.
First, Spurgeon argues that if we really appreciated the “sterling worth of time,” we would avoid wasting even a small amount of time. We should note that when used as an adjective, “sterling” means, “(of a person or their work, efforts, or qualities) excellent or valuable.” See sterling definition – Bing. He cautions against “empty frivolities,” and frittering away time in formal calls and “punctilious visits.” He emphasizes spending time on what really matters.
Even when it comes to Bible engagement, we should focus on things of eternity:
One brother, who meets me occasionally, can never be five minutes in my company, but what he attacks me upon the question of free agency and predestination; I told him, the last time I saw him, that I would have it out with him one of these days, but I must defer it till after the day of judgment, for I was too busy to talk about it just now. And I feel like that about a great many questions. There are brethren who can fully explain the Book of Revelation, though I generally find that they exclaim one against the other, till they declaim each other off the face of the earth. But I would sooner be able to proclaim the cross of Christ, and explain the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, than to decipher the imagery of Ezekiel, or the symbols of the Apocalypse. Blessed is he who can expound the mysteries. I have no doubt about his blessedness; but I am perfectly satisfied with another blessedness, namely, if I can bring sinners to Jesus, and teach the saints some practical truths which may guide them in daily life. It seems to me that the time is much too short to go up in a balloon with speculations, or to go down into the mines of profound thought, to bring up some odds and ends and scraps of singular knowledge. We want to save souls, and to conduct them to that heaven where God’s presence makes eternal day. This seems to me to be the pressing demand upon us now that “the time is short,” and “the night cometh when no man can work.”
Most of us have run into someone who proclaims “some odds and ends and scraps of singular knowledge,” even of a biblical nature, that are of no real eternal consequence.
Likewise, we cannot lose time is “senseless talk, idle gossip, or domestic scandals.” We are to serve God by our proper use of time. Spurgeon says:
He alone is a free man who knows how to use his time properly; and he is a slave indeed who finds it slavery to pursue his calling with a good conscience, and serve his God with diligence, fidelity, and zeal. Knowing that “the time is short,” you and I have not an hour to squander upon unprofitable amusements.
Paul gave Timothy similar advice in 1 Timothy 1:3–4 (NASB95):
3 As I urged you upon my departure for Macedonia, remain on at Ephesus so that you may instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines, 4 nor to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which give rise to mere speculation rather than furthering the administration of God which is by faith.
While the context is the behavior of widows, 1 Timothy 5:13 (NASB95) has universal application:
13 At the same time they also learn to be idle, as they go around from house to house; and not merely idle, but also gossips and busybodies, talking about things not proper to mention.
This first part generates the following questions for me to ponder:
Do I spend my time in such a way that demonstrates I greatly value my time?
Do I spend too much time in considering issues and topics that, even if biblical in nature, do not directly impact or equip me to directly impact people’s eternal destinies?
Do I spend a lot of time in idle chit chat?
Second, Spurgeon does not advocate all work and no play. But, he points out that diversions should be profitable:
There are some diversions which afford a respite from the incessant strain of labour and anxiety, and are profitable to strengthen the mind, and brace up the nerves. These are not only allowable, they are fit and proper; but while recreation is both needful and expedient to keep the mental and physical powers in working order, we can give no countenance to such dissipation as tends rather to enervate than to invigorate the constitution.
Rest from one’s work is biblical. For example, Exodus 23:12 (NASB95) reads:
12 “Six days you are to do your work, but on the seventh day you shall cease from labor so that your ox and your donkey may rest, and the son of your female slave, as well as your stranger, may refresh themselves.
This second part generates the following question for me to ponder:
Do I rest from my labors in such a way that refreshes by body and mind?
Third, Spurgeon preaches that we are to live with a “singleness of purpose:”
Let this also admonish us, brethren, to singleness of purpose. We must have only one aim. Had we plenty of time, we might try two or three schemes at once, though even then we should most probably fail for want of concentrating our energies; but as we have very little time, we had better economize it by attending to one thing. The man who devotes all his thought and strength to the accomplishment of one reasonable object is generally successful. My soul, bend thyself down, and lay thyself out for the glory of God; be this the one aim of thy entire being. Form your friendships, and order your occupations, so as to fulfil this first and highest duty of life. Be it your one sole motive to live for his honour, and, if necessary, even to die to promote his renown among the sons of men.
**
The reason why the majority of Christians never attain to any eminence in the divine life, is because they let the floods of their life run away in a dozen little, trickling rivulets, whereas, if they cooped them up into one channel, and sent that one stream rolling on to the glory of God, there would be such a force and power about their character, their thoughts, their efforts, and their actions, that they would really “live while they lived.”
Singleness of purpose is a biblical concept per Isaiah 50:7 (NASB95), which reads:
7 For the Lord God helps Me, Therefore, I am not disgraced; Therefore, I have set My face like flint, And I know that I will not be ashamed.
In connection with Isaiah 50:7, the gotquestions.org website reads (link: https://www.gotquestions.org/face-like-flint.html ) :
Set your face like flint is the figure of speech the prophet uses to describe the Messiah’s unwavering determination to persevere in the excruciating task set before Him.
Luke 9:51 (NASB95) expresses a similar determination:
51 When the days were approaching for His ascension, He was determined to go to Jerusalem;
This third part generates the following questions for me to ponder:
Do I spend my time with singleness of purpose? In other words, do I set my face like flint to carry out the work God has for me to do?
Finally, Spurgeon reminds us that we are slaves of Jesus Christ:
If Christ has bought you with his blood, and redeemed you from this present evil world, he has henceforth a claim on you as his servant, and it is at your peril that you take up with any pursuits that are inconsistent with a full surrender of yourself to him. You belong to him; so live wholly to him.
Romans 1:1 (NASB95) reads:
1 Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,
Note that Paul was “a bond-servant of Christ Jesus.” The NASB95 translates the Greek noun doulos as “a bond-servant.” According to Louw et al. (Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). In Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition., Vol. 1, p. 740). United Bible Societies), it means:
one who is a slave in the sense of becoming the property of an owner (though in ancient times it was frequently possible for a slave to earn his freedom)—‘slave, bondservant.’
The Logos 9 sense of doulos is a person who is legally owned by someone else and whose entire livelihood and purpose was determined by their master. The HCSB and NLT translate doulos as “a slave of Christ Jesus.” This is probably a more accurate translation into English.
This final part generates the following questions for me to ponder:
Do I spend my time in such a way that demonstrates I am owned by Jesus Christ, i.e., a slave of Jesus Christ?
CONCLUSION
Spurgeon is correct when he says that the expression “the time is short” in 1 Corinthians 7:29 warns us about how we should spend our time reaming on this earth. My hope is that the above questions cause you to better consider how you spend your time.
IF YOU ARE UNSURE ABOUT YOUR SALVATION
If you are unsure about your salvation, you need to check out my new (published in October, 2021) book The Salvation Meter: Biblical Self-Diagnostic Tests to Examine Your Salvation and Spiritual Growth (book link at Xulon Press: https://www.xulonpress.com/bookstore/bookdetail.php?PB_ISBN=9781662828638 ). At Amazon the book link is https://www.amazon.com/Salavation-Meter-Biblical-Self-Diagnostic-Spiritual/dp/1662828632 . I also have website in which I am updating the content in the book. The link to my website for the book is https://thesalvationmeter.com .
IF YOU ARE NOT A CHRISTIAN
If you are reading this post and are not a Christian, unless God intervenes, your eternal destination is hell. But, your destiny can change. Today can be the day of your salvation.
Please see my blog (https://stevebelsheim.com/2020/04/20/for-god-so-loves-you-2/) for a description of how you can be saved and a more concise description at my (https://stevebelsheim.com/2020/10/20/there-is-hope-even-when-there-seems-to-be-no-hope-2/ ).
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