The Use of Time
N e a l   M i l a m

We each are allotted the same amount of time. Each day we are allowed to live, we are given 24 hours, comprised of 1,440 minutes or 86,400 seconds. Some things God gives repeatedly, but He gives time only once. Benjamin Franklin stated: "Time is the stuff life is made of." We may be able to accumulate wealth, but not time. Time seems to be our enemy as we usually attempt to do more than we have time to do. Time can be a great blessing in mending broken hearts, drying tears, and renewing courage. Someone has said that time plus talents equal our responsibilities. We may possess great talent. but if we are reluctant to give time serving our Lord and our fellow man, we are poor stewards. There are certain principles we should follow if we are to practice good stewardship of time:

1. Choose How We Will Use Our Time. There must be conscious effort made if we are to use our time wisely. Proper use of time is a sign of spiritual maturity that we each should pursue. Without careful planning, it is doubtful that we will use this precious commodity as we should The Psalmist wrote, "Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom" (Psalms 90:12). Eccl. 8:5 states, "A wise man's heart discerns both time and judgment."
2. Choose To Spend Time On Important Matters. We often spend large amounts of time reacting to urgent things and spend little time on important things. If the car breaks down, we take time to get it fixed. If we feel we must spend time in yard work, housework, or a host of other things, we do so. We know it is important to share the gospel and do certain works of kindness for others, but we can list many reasons for not doing so today. We know that Bible study and prayer are important, but we often let urgent and maybe not so urgent matters keep us from doing this. Some of us seem to rush from one crisis to the next and thus fall into a pattern of undisciplined living and become poor stewards of God's blessings of time. Jesus did not become involved in many earthly matters that could have easily distracted from His most important work. He said, "I must work the works of Him who sent me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work" (John 9:4).
3. Choose Time For Spiritual Growth. There is a direct correlation between study of God's word and our spiritual growth. When we allow ourselves to get so busy that we neglect Bible study and fail to assemble for worship, we are just "too busy." Our Savior taught, "Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God' (Matt. 4:4). Peter wrote, "As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby" (I Pet. 2:2).

We need to reflect upon time and its swift passing. James warns against placing too much confidence on what we will do with our future time (James 4:14). Let us choose wisely how we will use this most precious and fleeting "stuff of which life is made."

Be sure to take time to meet brother Ryan Roark who is currently helping us conduct "Camp Carmel" - the Summer Bible School pro gram we are offering to the community.
"Camp Carmel" offers a curriculum of Bible study and related activities, each afternoon from 2-4 pm, Monday through Friday, and will last through July 20^th. The program is for students who will this year be in the 2nd through the 6th grades and the cost is $5.00 per week for snacks and supplies. Help us spread the word through the community.

TONIGHT!

STEARSMAN, Daniel & Katrina. . . . . . . . . .***-***-****
*** **********. - Lakeland, FL 33810

Tuesday - June 20 - Camp Carmel
Summer Bible School - Orange Street

Today - May 31 - Preston St., Auburndale
Different speaker each night