"A landlord owned several rental properties which he always managed himself. He mowed the yards, picked up trash and did all the maintenance he could himself to save money.
After a few years he moved to another state and was forced to hire a property manager until the properties could be sold. But once he moved, he realized he was still earning 80 percent of what he had earned before, but in only 5 percent of the time he had previously spent on his real estate. The landlord kept the first properties and bought more property in the new state, but this time he hired a property manager to take care of them. The landlord learned the value of delegation.
There will be seasons in your life when economic necessity means you must mow your own yard, and fix your own vehicles. But learning to delegate these whenever possible might free more time to spend with your family or with the Lord. And that would redeem the time.
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"The deepest spot in the world’s oceans is the Mariana Trench in the Pacific which reaches a depth of 36,201 feet. Water pressure in the trench is 8 tons per square inch. If Mt. Everest were placed in the Mariana Trench it would be covered by over 7,000 feet of water.
When it comes to depth, we as Christians have a choice in how we develop our ministry potential. Our tendency is to want to broaden our ministry instead of deepening it. And while it is certainly not wrong to want a broader ministry, it is wrong to spend all our time getting broader without going deeper. If we do we may have a very popular organization, but ultimately one with very shallow teaching.
If we want to really be effective for God and useful in His Kingdom’s work lets focus more time on deepening the messages and allow God to naturally broaden our ministry with time.
Remember, deepening, not just broadening, is the right way to redeem the time.
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"If we are to manage our time well there is one character quality that must be cultivated. It is decisiveness. Being decisive means focusing on our destination rather than focusing on distractions. Proverbs 4:27 says “Turn not to the right hand nor to the left.” The decisive individual refuses to waste time reconsidering a decision he knows to be right. He doesn't second guess in the dark a decision he’s already made in the light.
Indecisive people on the other hand will spend an hour just deciding what to have for supper or what clothes to wear. They cannot produce because they cannot decide what to produce or how they will produce it.
Do you have trouble making a decision and sticking by it? Jesus said no man having put his hand to the plow and looking back was worthy of being His follower. Decisiveness is a vital character quality for those who would redeem the time.
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"Andrew Jackson, the 7th US President was the first President to have his photo taken. No one alive today has seen the face of any of the first 6 Presidents.
No matter how popular you are, there will eventually come a time when there will be no living person who knew you or saw your face. That time may be 100 years from now, but, should the Lord delay His return, there will come a time when every person you now know will have grown old and died. When that time comes, what impact will your life have had on the world? Will it make any difference that you ever lived?
There is a way you can spend your time today that will make a difference. If you are a Christian, investing in the advancement of the Gospel or in passing on a Godly heritage to your descendants will make a difference.
The most powerful man on earth cannot stop time. But we can redeem the time.
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