Time is one thing we cannot get back, purchase, or earn. As much as we would like to, we cannot buy back more time or go back in time. All we have and are promised is the time we have right now. This understanding must impact the way we spend our time. After all, our time is short. We must make the most of this time we have been given. Today we will see what Scripture teaches about our short time on earth and how we can make the most of every second we have.
BREAK THE ICE
What time in your life would you want to go back to?
SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS
Bible Study Questions
1. What things consume most people’s time today?
WATCH SERMON RECAP
2. Read James 4:13-14. What does James teach about time in these verses?
James 4:13-14
"Look here, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit." 14 How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog-it's here a little while, then it's gone."
3. Read James 4:15-17. Describe the perspective shift James calls Christ followers to make regarding how we view plans and time.
James 4:15-17
"What you ought to say is, "If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that." 16 Otherwise you are boasting about your own pretentious plans, and all such boasting is evil. 17 Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it."
"What you ought to say is, "If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that." 16 Otherwise you are boasting about your own pretentious plans, and all such boasting is evil.
17 Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it."
4. Read Colossians 3:17. Summarize this verse in your own words. How does this verse explain how followers of Christ are called to live?
Colossians 3:17
"And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father."
Application
1. How does the Scripture we have studied today impact your understanding of your time and how to spend it?
2. How does having an eternal perspective impact the way we spend our time?
3. What are distractions when it comes to having an eternal perspective and focusing on God and His kingdom over anything else?
MOVING FORWARD
Think for a moment about how you spend your time. Is there anything distracting you from focusing on God and His kingdom? What is it? Share this with your group and what it would look like to let go of that distraction starting this week. Then, after everyone has shared, pray together for wisdom and courage to turn away from anything distracting you from knowing Christ and making Him known.
GOING DEEPER
One person who understood the importance of using his time well and prioritizing the calling God had placed on his life was Nehemiah. Nehemiah stayed focused in the midst of distractions that threatened to keep him from focusing on his calling to help rebuild the wall of Jerusalem. Let’s take a look at his story now.
The Calling:
God placed a burden on Nehemiah's life that he could not stay silent about. He boldly stepped up boldly and courageously and did something to help the burden God had given Him. Take a few minutes to look at the burden that God had given Him today.
1. God placed a burden on Nehemiah’s life that he could not stay silent about. He boldly stepped up courageously and did something to help the burden God had given Him. Take a few minutes to look at the burden God gave Him today.
Nehemiah 1:1-4
"These are the memoirs of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah. In late autumn, in the month of Kislev, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes' reign, I was at the fortress of Susa. 2 Hanani, one of my brothers, came to visit me with some other men who had just arrived from Judah. I asked them about the Jews who had returned there from captivity and about how things were going in Jerusalem. 3 They said to me, "Things are not going well for those who returned to the province of Judah. They are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem has been torn down, and the gates have been destroyed by fire." 4 When I heard this, I sat down and wept. In fact, for days I mourned, fasted, and prayed to the God of heaven."
"These are the memoirs of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah.
In late autumn, in the month of Kislev, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes' reign, I was at the fortress of Susa. 2 Hanani, one of my brothers, came to visit me with some other men who had just arrived from Judah. I asked them about the Jews who had returned there from captivity and about how things were going in Jerusalem.
3 They said to me, "Things are not going well for those who returned to the province of Judah. They are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem has been torn down, and the gates have been destroyed by fire."
4 When I heard this, I sat down and wept. In fact, for days I mourned, fasted, and prayed to the God of heaven."
Nehemiah 2:1-6
"Early the following spring, in the month of Nisan, during the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes' reign, I was serving the king his wine. I had never before appeared sad in his presence. 2 So the king asked me, "Why are you looking so sad? You don't look sick to me. You must be deeply troubled." Then I was terrified, 3 but I replied, "Long live the king! How can I not be sad? For the city where my ancestors are buried is in ruins, and the gates have been destroyed by fire." 4 The king asked, "Well, how can I help you?" With a prayer to the God of heaven, 5 I replied, "If it please the king, and if you are pleased with me, your servant, send me to Judah to rebuild the city where my ancestors are buried." 6 The king, with the queen sitting beside him, asked, "How long will you be gone? When will you return?" After I told him how long I would be gone, the king agreed to my request."
"Early the following spring, in the month of Nisan, during the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes' reign, I was serving the king his wine. I had never before appeared sad in his presence. 2 So the king asked me, "Why are you looking so sad? You don't look sick to me. You must be deeply troubled."
Then I was terrified, 3 but I replied, "Long live the king! How can I not be sad? For the city where my ancestors are buried is in ruins, and the gates have been destroyed by fire."
4 The king asked, "Well, how can I help you?"
With a prayer to the God of heaven, 5 I replied, "If it please the king, and if you are pleased with me, your servant, send me to Judah to rebuild the city where my ancestors are buried."
6 The king, with the queen sitting beside him, asked, "How long will you be gone? When will you return?" After I told him how long I would be gone, the king agreed to my request."
2. What was Nehemiah's burden and calling?
3. What was at stake if the walls of Jerusalem were not rebuilt?
The Process
After God gave Nehemiah a burden to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, Nehemiah got to work. He gathered help and started rebuilding the wall. As everyone started rebuilding the walls, Nehemiah’s enemies and the enemies of the people in Jerusalem took notice to do everything they could to distract him. Take a look at this part of Nehemiah’s story.
1. Read Nehemiah 2:11-18. How was God’s hand evident through Nehemiah’s actions?
Nehemiah 2:11-18
"So I arrived in Jerusalem. Three days later, 12 I slipped out during the night, taking only a few others with me. I had not told anyone about the plans God had put in my heart for Jerusalem. We took no pack animals with us except the donkey I was riding. 13 After dark I went out through the Valley Gate, past the Jackal's Well, and over to the Dung Gate to inspect the broken walls and burned gates. 14 Then I went to the Fountain Gate and to the King's Pool, but my donkey couldn't get through the rubble. 15 So, though it was still dark, I went up the Kidron Valley instead, inspecting the wall before I turned back and entered again at the Valley Gate. 16 The city officials did not know I had been out there or what I was doing, for I had not yet said anything to anyone about my plans. I had not yet spoken to the Jewish leaders-the priests, the nobles, the officials, or anyone else in the administration. 17 But now I said to them, "You know very well what trouble we are in. Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire. Let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem and end this disgrace!" 18 Then I told them about how the gracious hand of God had been on me, and about my conversation with the king. They replied at once, "Yes, let's rebuild the wall!" So they began the good work."
"So I arrived in Jerusalem. Three days later, 12 I slipped out during the night, taking only a few others with me. I had not told anyone about the plans God had put in my heart for Jerusalem. We took no pack animals with us except the donkey I was riding. 13 After dark I went out through the Valley Gate, past the Jackal's Well, and over to the Dung Gate to inspect the broken walls and burned gates. 14 Then I went to the Fountain Gate and to the King's Pool, but my donkey couldn't get through the rubble. 15 So, though it was still dark, I went up the Kidron Valley instead, inspecting the wall before I turned back and entered again at the Valley Gate.
16 The city officials did not know I had been out there or what I was doing, for I had not yet said anything to anyone about my plans. I had not yet spoken to the Jewish leaders-the priests, the nobles, the officials, or anyone else in the administration. 17 But now I said to them, "You know very well what trouble we are in. Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire. Let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem and end this disgrace!" 18 Then I told them about how the gracious hand of God had been on me, and about my conversation with the king.
They replied at once, "Yes, let's rebuild the wall!" So they began the good work."
2. Read Nehemiah 4:1-6 and Nehemiah 6:1-7. Why were Nehemiah’s enemies angry when they heard what he was doing?
Nehemiah 4:1-6
"Sanballat was very angry when he learned that we were rebuilding the wall. He flew into a rage and mocked the Jews, 2 saying in front of his friends and the Samarian army officers, "What does this bunch of poor, feeble Jews think they're doing? Do they think they can build the wall in a single day by just offering a few sacrifices? Do they actually think they can make something of stones from a rubbish heap-and charred ones at that?" 3 Tobiah the Ammonite, who was standing beside him, remarked, "That stone wall would collapse if even a fox walked along the top of it!" 4 Then I prayed, "Hear us, our God, for we are being mocked. May their scoffing fall back on their own heads, and may they themselves become captives in a foreign land! 5 Do not ignore their guilt. Do not blot out their sins, for they have provoked you to anger here in front of the builders." 6 At last the wall was completed to half its height around the entire city, for the people had worked with enthusiasm."
"Sanballat was very angry when he learned that we were rebuilding the wall. He flew into a rage and mocked the Jews, 2 saying in front of his friends and the Samarian army officers, "What does this bunch of poor, feeble Jews think they're doing? Do they think they can build the wall in a single day by just offering a few sacrifices? Do they actually think they can make something of stones from a rubbish heap-and charred ones at that?"
3 Tobiah the Ammonite, who was standing beside him, remarked, "That stone wall would collapse if even a fox walked along the top of it!"
4 Then I prayed, "Hear us, our God, for we are being mocked. May their scoffing fall back on their own heads, and may they themselves become captives in a foreign land! 5 Do not ignore their guilt. Do not blot out their sins, for they have provoked you to anger here in front of the builders."
6 At last the wall was completed to half its height around the entire city, for the people had worked with enthusiasm."
Nehemiah 6:1-7
"Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies found out that I had finished rebuilding the wall and that no gaps remained-though we had not yet set up the doors in the gates. 2 So Sanballat and Geshem sent a message asking me to meet them at one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But I realized they were plotting to harm me, 3 so I replied by sending this message to them: "I am engaged in a great work, so I can't come. Why should I stop working to come and meet with you?" 4 Four times they sent the same message, and each time I gave the same reply. 5 The fifth time, Sanballat's servant came with an open letter in his hand, 6 and this is what it said: "There is a rumor among the surrounding nations, and Geshem tells me it is true, that you and the Jews are planning to rebel and that is why you are building the wall. According to his reports, you plan to be their king. 7 He also reports that you have appointed prophets in Jerusalem to proclaim about you, 'Look! There is a king in Judah!' "You can be very sure that this report will get back to the king, so I suggest that you come and talk it over with me."
"Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies found out that I had finished rebuilding the wall and that no gaps remained-though we had not yet set up the doors in the gates. 2 So Sanballat and Geshem sent a message asking me to meet them at one of the villages in the plain of Ono.
But I realized they were plotting to harm me, 3 so I replied by sending this message to them: "I am engaged in a great work, so I can't come. Why should I stop working to come and meet with you?"
4 Four times they sent the same message, and each time I gave the same reply. 5 The fifth time, Sanballat's servant came with an open letter in his hand, 6 and this is what it said:
"There is a rumor among the surrounding nations, and Geshem tells me it is true, that you and the Jews are planning to rebel and that is why you are building the wall. According to his reports, you plan to be their king. 7 He also reports that you have appointed prophets in Jerusalem to proclaim about you, 'Look! There is a king in Judah!'
"You can be very sure that this report will get back to the king, so I suggest that you come and talk it over with me."
3.How did Nehemiah’s enemies seek to distract Nehemiah from his calling and burden?
The Finished Product
Now that we have looked at the process of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, let's take a look at what happened as the work on the walls began to move toward completion. First, let's review Nehemiah's dedication to this calling on his life to rebuild the walls and then we will see the result of his perseverance.
1. Read Nehemiah 4:8-9 and Nehemiah 6:3-4, which you previously read. What stands out to you about Nehemiah’s response when his enemies tried to distract him?
Nehemiah 4:8-9
"They all made plans to come and fight against Jerusalem and throw us into confusion. 9 But we prayed to our God and guarded the city day and night to protect ourselves." Nehemiah 6:3-4 3 so I replied by sending this message to them: "I am engaged in a great work, so I can't come. Why should I stop working to come and meet with you?" 4 Four times they sent the same message, and each time I gave the same reply.
"They all made plans to come and fight against Jerusalem and throw us into confusion. 9 But we prayed to our God and guarded the city day and night to protect ourselves."
Nehemiah 6:3-4
3 so I replied by sending this message to them: "I am engaged in a great work, so I can't come. Why should I stop working to come and meet with you?"
4 Four times they sent the same message, and each time I gave the same reply.
2. Read Nehemiah 6:15-16. What was the result of Nehemiah’s dedication to the calling and burden God placed in his life?
Nehemiah 6:15-16
"So on October 2 the wall was finished-just fifty-two days after we had begun. 16 When our enemies and the surrounding nations heard about it, they were frightened and humiliated. They realized this work had been done with the help of our God."
Reflect:
Take a few moments to reflect on the Scripture you read about Nehemiah and his dedication to the calling and burden God gave him in the middle of obstacles and distractions.
1. What is a God-sized burden God has placed in your life?
2. In what ways does the enemy seek to pull you down specifically?
3. Who can you ask to hold you accountable and help you keep doing the great work God has called you to?
End your time in prayer. Ask God to help you all stay focused and keep doing the work He has called each one of you to do.
MONTHLY MEMORY VERSE (Available for download on Sagebrush App)
Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. James 5:16
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