Time Management
Jump to: TopicalLibrarySubtopicsTerms
Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Importance:
Time management refers to the process of organizing and planning how to divide one's time between various activities. It is a skill that enables individuals to work smarter, not harder, ensuring that they accomplish more in less time. From a biblical perspective, time is a precious gift from God, and believers are called to use it wisely to fulfill God's purposes.

Biblical Foundation:
The Bible emphasizes the importance of time and the need for its careful management. In Ecclesiastes 3:1, it is written, "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens." This verse underscores the idea that God has ordained specific times for various activities, and it is the responsibility of believers to discern and align with these divine timings.

Stewardship of Time:
The concept of stewardship is central to the Christian understanding of time management. Believers are called to be good stewards of all that God has entrusted to them, including their time. Ephesians 5:15-16 instructs, "Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil." This passage encourages Christians to be intentional and prudent in their use of time, recognizing the brevity and challenges of life.

Jesus as a Model:
Jesus Christ serves as the ultimate model for time management. Throughout the Gospels, Jesus is seen balancing prayer, teaching, healing, and rest. Despite the demands of His ministry, He often withdrew to solitary places to pray (Luke 5:16), demonstrating the importance of prioritizing time with God. Jesus' life exemplifies a perfect balance between work and rest, showing that effective time management involves setting priorities and maintaining a rhythm that honors God.

Practical Application:
1. Prioritization: Believers are encouraged to seek God's kingdom first (Matthew 6:33) and prioritize their time accordingly. This involves setting clear goals and focusing on activities that align with God's will.

2. Planning: Proverbs 21:5 states, "The plans of the diligent bring abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty." Planning is a biblical principle that aids in effective time management, helping individuals to allocate their time wisely and avoid unnecessary haste.

3. Rest and Renewal: The Bible acknowledges the need for rest, as seen in the Sabbath commandment (Exodus 20:8-10). Regular rest and renewal are essential for maintaining physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being, enabling believers to serve God more effectively.

4. Avoiding Procrastination: Proverbs 6:6-8 advises, "Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways and be wise. Without a commander, without an overseer or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food at harvest." This passage highlights the importance of diligence and the avoidance of procrastination in managing time.

Eternal Perspective:
Christians are reminded to view time through the lens of eternity. Psalm 90:12 prays, "Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." This eternal perspective encourages believers to use their time on earth to invest in what has lasting value, such as their relationship with God and service to others.

Conclusion:
While the Bible does not provide a detailed manual on time management, it offers principles and examples that guide believers in using their time effectively. By aligning their time with God's purposes, Christians can live fulfilling lives that honor God and impact the world for His kingdom.
Topical Bible Verses
Luke 14:28
For which of you, intending to build a tower, sits not down first, and counts the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
Topicalbible.org

Matthew 6:33
But seek you first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you.
Topicalbible.org

Ecclesiastes 3:8
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
Topicalbible.org

Library

Caesar Makes Antipater Procurator of Judea; as Does Antipater ...
... And, at the same time that he said this, he settled the affairs of the ... he procured
the good-will of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, by his own management of the ...
/.../chapter 10 caesar makes antipater.htm

Strangers must Never be Expelled the City in a Time of Famine. ...
... How great is the assistance which they supply even at this time. ... 51. How far more
virtuous and expedient was that first-mentioned management! ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter vii strangers must never.htm

Alexandra Reigns Nine Years, During which Time the Pharisees were ...
... She was a sagacious woman in the management of great affairs, and intent always
upon ... 4. In the mean time, Alexandra fell sick, and Aristobulus, her younger son ...
/.../chapter 5 alexandra reigns nine.htm

"Being Accustomed to Eat Fish at the Time of Easter...
... the time of Easter, he enquired a little before the hour for refreshment, whether
it was in readiness. Then Cato, the deacon, to whom the outward management of ...
/.../life and writings of sulpitius severus /chapter x being accustomed to.htm

How Herod Slew Hyrcanus and Then Hasted Away to Caesar, and ...
... beaten at the battle of Actium by Caesar [Octarian]; for at that time both Herod's ...
he came to be king, but that he even then committed the management of the ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 6 how herod slew.htm

The Sifting Time, 1743-1750.
... He forgot that before he went away he had entrusted the management of home affairs ...
It led to the period known as the "Sifting Time." It is the saddest period ...
/.../hutton/history of the moravian church/chapter viii the sifting time.htm

Councils of Basel and Florence (Ad 1431-9)
... or to send some one in his stead; then, they lengthened out this time somewhat;
and ... it to Florence (AD 1438-9); and it seemed as if by his management the Greeks ...
/.../chapter xxvi councils of basel.htm

Upon Human Nature.
... refer to such circumstances now ceased or altered, cannot at this time be urged ... us,
in its first intent and design, relates to the decent management of those ...
//christianbookshelf.org/butler/human nature/sermon i upon human nature.htm

Essay iv. The Generous Spirit, Who, when Brought among the Tasks ...
... not bring his ship into the line of battle till some time after the ... sails of the
ship not absolutely necessary for its immediate management, were thoroughly ...
/.../confessions of an inquiring spirit etc/essay iv the generous spirit.htm

Appendix
... in the event of its appearing to them necessary during their life-time, or in ... for
the better government of the said College, and the better management of its ...
//christianbookshelf.org/smith/the life of william carey/appendix.htm

Resources
Does the Bible say anything about the possibility of time travel? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean that Esther was appointed “for such a time as this”? | GotQuestions.org

What is the time of Jacob's trouble? | GotQuestions.org

Time: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Subtopics

Time

Time for Friends

Time for War

Time Given To Religion

Time in Prophetic Language, Means a Prophetic Year, or 360 Natural

Time Management

Time to Die

Time to Laugh

Time to Plant

Time With God

Time: All Events of, Predetermined by God

Time: All God's Purposes Fulfilled in Due Time

Time: An Appointed Season

Time: Beginning of

Time: Computed by Days

Time: Computed by Hours, After the Captivity

Time: Computed by Months

Time: Computed by Weeks

Time: Computed by Years

Time: Daniel's Reckoning of Time, and Times, and Half Times

Time: Division of, Into Watches

Time: End of

Time: Epochs of Before the Flood

Time: Eras from Which, Computed: Accession of Kings

Time: Eras from Which, Computed: Building of the Temple

Time: Eras from Which, Computed: Nativity of the Patriarchs During the Patriarchal Age

Time: Eras from Which, Computed: The Captivity

Time: Eras from Which, Computed: The Exodus from Egypt

Time: Eras from Which, Computed: The Jubilee

Time: Fullness of

Time: Indicated by a Sun-Dial

Time: Moments

Time: One Day is Like One-Thousand Years

Time: Part of a Period of, Usually Counted As the Whole

Time: Particular Periods of, Mentioned: The Accepted Time

Time: Particular Periods of, Mentioned: The Ancient Time

Time: Particular Periods of, Mentioned: The Evil Time

Time: Particular Periods of, Mentioned: The Time of Healing

Time: Particular Periods of, Mentioned: The Time of Need

Time: Particular Periods of, Mentioned: The Time of Reformation

Time: Particular Periods of, Mentioned: The Time of Refreshing

Time: Particular Periods of, Mentioned: The Time of Restitution of all Things

Time: Particular Periods of, Mentioned: The Time of Temptation

Time: Particular Periods of, Mentioned: The Time of Trouble

Time: Particular Periods of, Mentioned: The Time of Visitation

Time: Shortness of Man's Portion of

Time: should be Redeemed

Time: should be Spent in Fear of God

Time: The Duration of the World

Time: The Exodus

Time: The Heavenly Bodies, Appointed As a Means for Computing

Time: The Measure of the Continuance of Anything

Time: The Sun-Dial Early Invented for Pointing Out

Related Terms

Time (7245 Occurrences)

Life-time (12 Occurrences)

Day-time (11 Occurrences)

Even-time (4 Occurrences)

Vintage-time (3 Occurrences)

First-time (1 Occurrence)

Evening-time (2 Occurrences)

Before-time (1 Occurrence)

Dinner-time (1 Occurrence)

Ploughing-time (1 Occurrence)

Seed-time (1 Occurrence)

Sowing-time (1 Occurrence)

Supper-time (1 Occurrence)

Meal-time (1 Occurrence)

Visitation (17 Occurrences)

Zoan (7 Occurrences)

Sanballat (10 Occurrences)

Scripture (51 Occurrences)

Sometime (5 Occurrences)

Supporter (6 Occurrences)

Since (1200 Occurrences)

Korahites (7 Occurrences)

Shallum (27 Occurrences)

Stork (6 Occurrences)

Zephaniah (11 Occurrences)

Slow (43 Occurrences)

Vine-dressers (18 Occurrences)

Zacharias (11 Occurrences)

Kissing (10 Occurrences)

Kore (4 Occurrences)

Sheshbazzar (4 Occurrences)

Salutation (6 Occurrences)

Sew (4 Occurrences)

Stitching (4 Occurrences)

Skip (8 Occurrences)

Shun (14 Occurrences)

Slayer (23 Occurrences)

Kills (38 Occurrences)

Spend (54 Occurrences)

Sabbatical (1 Occurrence)

Spent (76 Occurrences)

Vexation (36 Occurrences)

Year (4027 Occurrences)

Snow (25 Occurrences)

Sleep (136 Occurrences)

Short (128 Occurrences)

Sarah (38 Occurrences)

Areopagus (3 Occurrences)

Sanhedrin (19 Occurrences)

Zebulun (46 Occurrences)

Zedekiah (63 Occurrences)

Vine-growers (13 Occurrences)

Seer (21 Occurrences)

Kingdoms (65 Occurrences)

Kenites (8 Occurrences)

Knewest (11 Occurrences)

Kadesh (30 Occurrences)

Knives (12 Occurrences)

Asahel (17 Occurrences)

Arrive (20 Occurrences)

Ashdod (21 Occurrences)

Strangers (95 Occurrences)

Soon (636 Occurrences)

Sackbut (4 Occurrences)

Shape (17 Occurrences)

Showers (20 Occurrences)

Shephatiah (13 Occurrences)

Swiftly (15 Occurrences)

Spell (2 Occurrences)

Spending (7 Occurrences)

Salchah (1 Occurrence)

Sambuca (4 Occurrences)

Salcah (4 Occurrences)

Salecah (4 Occurrences)

Shelemiah (10 Occurrences)

Single (65 Occurrences)

Season (101 Occurrences)

Sela (5 Occurrences)

Time in Prophetic Language, Means a Prophetic Year, or 360 Natural
Top of Page
Top of Page