FATHER’S Master Plan requires us to steward the gift of time!
We are to be good stewards of time. Time is one of our most precious resources and we are to be good stewards of time as well as other resources that we manage.
In the 1970’s I worked at the largest bank in Oklahoma, and I was tasked with developing a time management course to be taught to about 150 bank officers. In essence, I created a prioritized To Do List that each person was to follow daily. At the beginning of each day, they were to prioritize their required tasks for the day and put them in one of three sections: A, B, or C. The intent was to focus on A priorities first: A1, A2, A3… Once the A’s were done, then they would start on B’s. The question to be asked, “What is the best use of my time?”
Jesus spoke in Luke chapter 12:
35 “Be prepared for action at a moment’s notice.
36 Be like servants anticipating their Master’s return from a wedding celebration. They are ready at a moment’s notice to unlock and open the door for Him.
37 What great joy is ahead for those who stay awake and wait for their Master’s return! He Himself will become their servant and wait on them.
38 He may appear at midnight or even later, but what great joy for the awakened ones whenever He comes!
39 Of course, if they knew ahead of time the hour of their Master’s appearing, they would be alert, just as they would be ready if they knew ahead of time that a thief was coming to break into their house.
40 So keep being alert and ready at all times. For I promise you that the Son of Man will surprise you and appear when you don’t expect Him.”
Jesus expects us to be dressed for service, keep our lamps burning, and be on watch for His return. How do you stack up with His expectation?
Paul urged us as he wrote by The Holy Spirit in Romans chapter 13:
11 To live like this is all the more urgent, for time is running out and you know it is a strategic hour in human history. It is time for us to wake up! For our full salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.
12 Night’s darkness is dissolving away as a new day of destiny dawns. So we must once and for all strip away what is done in the shadows of darkness, removing it like filthy clothes. And once and for all we clothe ourselves with the radiance of light as our weapon.
13 We must live honorably, surrounded by the light of this new day, not in the darkness of drunkenness and debauchery, not in promiscuity and sensuality, not being argumentative or jealous of others.
14 Instead fully immerse yourselves into the Lord Jesus, the Anointed One, and don’t waste even a moment’s thought on your former identity to awaken its selfish desires.
We are to live in an eager expectation of His return, we are to be vigilant and watchful. We are to abide IN HIM and have His Word abide in us. We are to be engaged in Kingdom service.
Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in Ephesians chapter 2:
10 We have become His poetry, a re-created people that will fulfill the destiny he has given each of us, for we are joined to Jesus, the Anointed One. Even before we were born, God planned in advance our destiny and the good works we would do to fulfill it!
And King David recorded by The Holy Spirit in Psalm chapter 139:
16 You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in Your Book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.
Each of us is a part of HIS Master plan. However, it is up to us to accept or reject our part of HIS plan.
Jesus spoke in Luke chapter 13:
6 Then Jesus told them this parable: “There was a Man Who planted a fig tree in his orchard. But every time He came to gather fruit from His tree He found none, for it was barren.
7 So He said to His gardener, ‘For the last three years I’ve come to gather figs from My tree but it remains fruitless. What a waste! Go ahead and cut it down!’
8 “But the gardener protested, ‘Sir, we should leave it one more year. Let Me fertilize and cultivate it, then let’s see if it will produce fruit.
9 If it doesn’t bear figs by next year, We’ll cut it down.’ ”
To summarize: The gardener replies: “Give it one more year.” He will dig around it and fertilize it.
If it bears fruit → good.
If not → then cut it down.
The fig tree represents a person (or Israel / believers). The owner is God seeking fruit (repentance, righteousness). The gardener represents mercy/intercession (often understood as Christ) and the extra year is God’s patience and grace. Finally, The cutting down represents judgment if there’s still no fruit.
God is patient and gives us time to repent, but He still expects Spiritual fruit. Mercy is extended… but not forever.
Let us be good stewards of the time we have left!