As we go throughout our day, it is easy to live as if our time is unlimited. We put off important or hard things, thinking that we will do them tomorrow when in reality, we are not guaranteed tomorrow. In fact, Scripture teaches us that our time here on earth is not unlimited at all. Our time on earth is short, and the Bible calls us to make the most of the precious time that we do have.
If you were given an extra hour to do anything you wanted every day, what would you do with that time?
1. Why is it important to understand that our time on earth is short?
2. Read James 4:13-17. How would you summarize the message from these verses in 1 sentence?
James 4:13-17 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.” 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. What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.” Otherwise you are boasting about your own pretentious plans, and all such boasting is evil. Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.
James 4:13-17
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.” 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. What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.” Otherwise you are boasting about your own pretentious plans, and all such boasting is evil.
Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.
3. Look back at James 4:17. Why do you think this reminder follows James 4:13-16?
4. Read 1 Corinthians 3:9-15. According to these verses, how will the work of each builder be revealed? How does this message challenge followers of Christ to live in light of the truth in these verses?
1 Corinthians 3:9-15 For we are both God’s workers. And you are God’s field. You are God’s building. Because of God’s grace to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ. Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials—gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value. If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames.
1 Corinthians 3:9-15
For we are both God’s workers. And you are God’s field. You are God’s building.
Because of God’s grace to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ.
Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials—gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value. If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames.
5. How do these challenges from both James 4:13-17 and 1 Corinthians 3:9-15 affect the way that you want to spend your time?
6. Take a minute to evaluate how you spend your time now. What is going well? What changes would you like to make?
7. What is one step that you can take to better live in light of eternity?
Statistics show that the average American spends 2 hours and 30 minutes on social media every day. That is just the average! What if you and your group took this week to do a fast from accessing social media or just kept it down to 30 minutes a day? Take this challenge and report back how you felt and what you learned.
As we think about the truth that this world is passing away quickly and one day we will give an account for the lives we lived on earth, we must also remember that if we have placed our faith in Christ, we can have confidence that we have been forgiven. God no longer holds our sins against us. This may be a hard concept for us to understand in our limited human experience, so let’s dive into Scripture to see what it has to say about the forgiveness of sins.
Take some time to read these verses, and then talk through the questions that follow after reading:
Scripture reading:
Genesis 3:20-24
Psalm 103:6-18
1 John 2:1-6
Hebrews 10:1-25
Colossians 3:12-13
Questions to Answer:
God holds not one of our sins against us when we turn to Him for forgiveness. We can take Him at His word and rest in that forgiveness. This kind of forgiveness propels us to practice thanksgiving and to commit to extending that forgiveness. Spend some time praying together. As you pray, thank God for the forgiveness that He has shown you all and ask Him for the courage and boldness to extend that forgiveness to others.
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John 10:27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
John 10:27
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
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