How to Live | Lesson 2, Part 2

Greetings MOL Family!

Our time belongs to God. Every moment is His, and we are under the most solemn obligation to improve it to His glory. Of no talent He has given will He require a more strict account than of our time.  {COL 342; The Greatest Lessons of Life, pg. 112} 

 

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How To Find [Make] Time To Be With God

 

Turn to Ministry of Healing, page 456 (pg. 150 in The Wisdom of the Great Physician, under the section “Christ the Fountainhead of True Knowledge”). Now I want you to read on this page until you find a mathematical term. What is it? — A thousand. How much more than five hundred is a thousand? — twice as many. How much more than one hundred is a thousand? If I should tell you today that in order to get what we’re studying about, a deep experience with Christ, that there were ten things in your life that had to come out, would you be willing? But here:

We must turn away from [What?] a thousand topics that [What?] invite attention. – Ministry of Healing, pg. 456

There are a thousand things that are going to invite your attention. I don’t think that it will only be the dance hall, or the gambling hall, or the horse racing. I don’t think it’ll be the night club. I hope none of those things are bothering you. If they are, put them down as part of the thousand, but there are still 995 left. And many of those, my dear friends, are either things that we wouldn’t call bad, or they are things that we might call definitely good.

I wrote down some things that I’d like to have you write down, not to get in an argument with somebody about, but to get into a personal session with God over. I’m going to give you 13 things which you might check. Some of these, you’ll say, “Oh, well, there’s no way for me to save any time on those.” All right, but if out of the 13 you find one point on which you can save some time, then my time will have been well spent.

Now, let me make clear before we read this list, that I’m not suggesting that everything on this list is bad. That’s not what I’m discussing. I’m suggesting here some things that you might save time on in order to find time to study the Bible, and pray, and commune with God in nature. This is the question I’m answering, as was mentioned in part 1 of this lesson, “Where do we find time to be alone with God in prayer, in Bible study, and in nature.” Here are 13 things you might check.

1. Reading newspapers, magazines, or any form of social media.
   2. Keeping up with the latest books or blogs.
   3. TV and on-demand shows or videos.
   4. Radio or some music streaming service.
   5. Hobbies.

Well you say, “Shouldn’t people have a hobby?” Well, my dear friends, I don’t think any of those pearls that the merchant man sold were bad at all. He was seeking what? Godly pearls.

How much time do you think those men that went to the moon spent working on their hobbies while they were on their trip in Apollo? Now, if God teaches you how to take advantage of all the glorious opportunities that He gives you, and at the same time have a chance to spend some time in stamp collecting and making a coin collection and so on with a long list of hobbies, okay. I’m not saying you shouldn’t. I’m making a list of things that you can check through if you’re having difficulty finding time to be alone with God in prayer, Bible study and nature.

6. Just visiting, and I put in parenthesis (gossip and chitchat). Standing around or sitting around, talking to this one and that one.

Someone says, “Don’t you think we ought to be sociable?” Sure, friends. Yet, do you want the Pearl? Are you looking for some time to be alone with God? This is my question.

7. Before the mirror.

Would you like a reference on that? We will find it in Vol. 1, page 162:

The time that you spend standing before the glass preparing the hair to please the eye, should be devoted to prayer and searching of heart. – Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 1, pg. 162

Here’s some time that God has budgeted in your 24 hours. If you spend it over here, you’ll not have it to spend on something else.

Somebody says, “Don’t you think we should look well groomed?” Yes, but my subject is not grooming. It’s not reading, TV. My subject is one thing, how to find time to get the Pearl.

8. Writing letters or talking on the phone.

Somebody was telling me about how when they write letters they write on and on, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 pages [or on the phone for that many hours]. Well, friends, there is time that somebody could be alone with God. Somebody says, “Don’t you think we ought to correspond with others?” Yes, friends:

But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness… – Matthew 6:33

9. Music, instrumental, vocal, theory, practice.

“Ah, but,” someone says, “we need music.” Yes friends, we need a lot of things. But first we need what? — The Pearl. And I’m quoting inspiration:

Oh, that the sound of instrumental music might cease and they no more while away so much precious time in pleasing their own fancy. – Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 2, pg. 144

10. Travel, long and short.

Thanksgiving is on Thursday. You know what a lot of people want to do? They want to run somewhere. Christmas will come. Thousands of dollars will be spent in running back and forth, here, there and yonder. And it not only takes money, it takes time, it takes energy.

“Ah, but,” somebody says, “don’t you think some traveling needs to be done?” Yes, that’s not my subject. My subject is how can you find more time to be alone with God. I’m giving you some suggestions.

11. Accepting various invitations and responsibilities.

You’ll be invited to do this, to do that, to take this job, this assignment. I’m not talking now about your work assignment. I’m talking about various extra-curricular activities. And they won’t be invitations to the dance hall or the movie theater. Some of them will be good things, things that need to be done. Things that somebody needs to do.

But, friends, if they keep you from time to be alone with God, they are the devil’s instruments. Make certain when somebody invites you to do something that you take it first to God and find out whether it’s something that’s going to help you find the Pearl, or something that will keep you from getting the Pearl.

12. Shopping trips in town.

It’s safe to say there are some people that take five times as much time over a year shopping as others do. Now, if you’re one who runs to a store every chance you get, there’s a chance that you might have to have some time alone with God. Incidentally, along with saving time, you’ll save money!

Now, that was number what? — Twelve. How many did I promise you?

13. A way you can save time is learning to speed up, if your movements are slow. I want to read something to you on that:

By tact and method, some will accomplish as much work in five hours as another does in ten. – Christ’s Object Lessons, pg. 344

Wouldn’t that be wonderful, friends, if you could cut the time that you spend in certain activities in half? And think of all the time you’d have for Bible study, prayer and to be alone with God and nature. Those are things that you can check.

 

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Cultivate This Habit

 

Now, some suggestions of other ways in which you can find [make] time to carry out what we’ve studied in these lessons: Turn to Ministry of Healing, page 510-511 (The Wisdom of the Great Physician, pg. 169, par. 2). I’ll just introduce this part of the study today, and we’ll pick it up again next week, Lord willing.

The reason why so many are left to themselves in places of temptation is that they do not set the Lord always before them. When we permit our communion with God to be broken, our defense is departed from us. Not all your good purposes and good intentions will enable you to withstand evil. – Ministry of Healing, pg. 510

The devil is here to tempt. And your good intentions won’t be enough:

You must be men and women of [What?] prayer. [Now watch] Your petitions must not be faint, occasional, and fitful, but earnest, persevering, and constant. – Ministry of Healing, pg. 510

You’re going after that what? That Pearl. How many pearls? — One Pearl.

It is not always necessary to bow upon your knees in order to pray. Cultivate the habit. – Ibid

Do you know how you cultivate a habit? You do the same thing over and over again.

Cultivate the habit of talking with the Saviour when you are alone, when you are walking, and when you are busy with your daily labor. – Ibid., pgs. 511

 

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This is an experience of efficiency. And think of all the benefits physically, mentally, and spiritually. Fellowship with Jesus – this is how to live!

Until next week – Invite a friend, and we’ll see you then… 

–Continue on to the next study–

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* This study has been adapted from classes taken by Elder W.D. Frazee.