Make Time Count: Prioritizing God, Family, Kingdom

Devotional

Day 1: Buried Talents and Empty Hours

The man with one talent dug a hole. He gripped the cold metal shovel, burying his master’s gift in dirt. Fear choked him: “What if I fail? What if I lose it all?” Meanwhile, the others traded, risked, and doubled their trust. When the master returned, he called the fearful servant “evil” and “lazy.” The hole wasn’t just dirt—it was wasted time, buried purpose. [50:49]

Jesus entrusts gifts to everyone. Talents aren’t just money—they’re time, skills, moments to bless others. The master’s anger wasn’t about the amount lost but the refusal to try. God designed time to be invested, not hoarded. When we bury our days in distraction or fear, we reject His trust.

How many hours do you hide in screens or worry? What could happen if you risked one hour today for God’s kingdom? Name one gift you’ve neglected. What concrete step will you take to dig it up?

“His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant!... You should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.’”
(Matthew 25:26–27, NIV)

Prayer: Ask Jesus to reveal one buried gift and give you courage to use it today.
Challenge: Spend 15 minutes using that gift (e.g., write encouragement, serve a neighbor, create art).

Day 2: Moses’ Morning Until Evening

Moses sat alone, judging disputes from sunrise to sunset. People crowded him, demanding answers. His father-in-law Jethro watched, then said, “This is not good. You’ll wear yourself out.” Moses thought he had to do it all—but God never asked for solo labor. Jethro told him to appoint leaders, share the load, and focus on prayer. [07:29]

God doesn’t call us to burnout. Like Moses, we often confuse busyness with obedience. Jesus prioritized prayer over crowds, discipleship over doing everything. When we refuse to delegate, we rob others of growth and drain our strength.

Where are you playing Moses—clutching tasks God wants others to carry? What “urgent” work distracts you from prayer or family? Name one responsibility you can hand off this week.

“Moses’ father-in-law replied, ‘What you are doing is not good. You and these people… will only wear yourselves out.’”
(Exodus 18:17–18, NIV)

Prayer: Confess areas where pride or fear makes you cling to control.
Challenge: Delegate one task (home, work, or church) to someone else today.

Day 3: Tables Versus Testimonies

The apostles faced a crisis: Greek widows were overlooked in food distribution. Hungry mouths demanded attention, but Peter said, “We can’t abandon preaching to wait tables.” They appointed deacons, freeing themselves to pray and teach. The result? The Word spread, and priests came to faith. [04:42]

Not all good work is God’s best work. The apostles chose eternal impact over temporary fixes. Jesus often withdrew from crowds to pray, letting needs wait. Our calling isn’t to meet every demand but to steward our unique role in God’s plan.

What “tables” drain your time but don’t align with your purpose? Are you neglecting prayer or Scripture to chase others’ expectations?

“It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables.”
(Acts 6:2, NIV)

Prayer: Ask God to clarify your primary calling and courage to say “no” to distractions.
Challenge: Cancel one non-essential commitment this week to protect time for prayer.

Day 4: Withdrawing to Deserted Places

Jesus healed crowds, fed thousands, and taught daily. Yet He slipped away before dawn to pray in lonely places. The disciples scrambled, confused: “Everyone’s looking for You!” But Jesus knew His priority wasn’t their applause—it was the Father’s voice. [19:17]

Busyness breeds emptiness. Jesus’ power flowed from solitude, not schedules. Time with God isn’t a luxury—it’s the source of strength. When we skip prayer to meet demands, we trade eternal fruit for temporary approval.

When did you last withdraw to pray? What urgent task feels heavier than sitting with God?

“Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came… But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.”
(Luke 5:15–16, NIV)

Prayer: Thank Jesus for inviting you into rest. Ask Him to guard your quiet time.
Challenge: Set a phone timer for 5 minutes today—pray without multitasking.

Day 5: The Rope and the Eternal

A rope stretched across the room—a tiny segment marked “earthly life,” the rest “eternity.” The master said, “Steward this well.” Every moment here ripples into forever. David wrote, “Teach us to number our days,” while the lazy servant wasted his. [58:38]

Time is a seed. Planted in God’s kingdom, it yields eternal harvests. Wasted hours bury potential. Jesus promises rewards not for busyness but faithfulness: “Well done” comes to those who invest today for tomorrow’s joy.

What habit or relationship deserves more of your “rope”? What will you regret not prioritizing?

“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”
(Psalm 90:12, NIV)

Prayer: Beg God to show you one area where you’re sowing for eternity.
Challenge: Write a letter or text to someone, affirming their eternal value.

Sermon Summary

Stewardship of time takes the center in this exposition on faithful living. Scripture anchors the call to wise living (Ephesians 5:15) and the parable of the talents, pressing the reality that time functions like a entrusted resource. The Bible frames time as finite and precious: days fly, life proves brief, and every breath counts toward kingdom purpose. The pattern of Scripture and church history shows that clarifying priorities unleashes spiritual fruit—when leaders refuse to be consumed by minor tasks, the word advances and communities flourish.

Practical illustrations make the urgency concrete. A life-size rope image contrasts the tiny span of earthly time with the unending line of eternity, urging a focus on stewardship rather than accumulation. Time audits reveal surprising allotments—sleep, screens, work—and expose how good things often crowd out the best things. The difference between efficiency and devotion becomes clear: stewardship centers on quality investments of time, not merely productivity hacks.

Three pastoral principles emerge for realignment. First, each season brings specific assignments that must rise to the top. Second, every assignment carries unique responsibilities that only particular people can bear. Third, neglect of those priorities generates strain for the individual and the community, while honoring them produces life, growth, and multiplied fruit. Biblical examples—Acts 6’s delegation to deacons and Jethro’s counsel to Moses—model wise release of tasks so leaders can remain devoted to prayer, teaching, and strategic stewardship.

Priority-setting moves from theory to daily practice. Relationship with God claims first place: retreat, prayer, and Scripture must fuel ministry. Family ranks as the first ministry, demanding nonnegotiable time and presence. Kingdom priorities follow—gathering, serving, and using spiritual gifts build the body and extend witness. Finally, honest speech about choices transforms excuses into agency: “didn’t make time” replaces “don’t have time,” prompting concrete reordering of days. The closing invitation guides listeners to list top priorities, name one competing demand, and make intentional shifts so that each hour honors the Lord and advances the kingdom.

Key Takeaways

1. Give God your best time Stewardship begins by offering prime hours to God rather than leftovers. Prioritizing daily devotion and prayer cultivates the inward life from which every fruitful ministry flows. When the day starts with communion, decisions and relationships orient toward kingdom impact rather than reactive busyness. This habit recharges leadership and deepens gospel effectiveness. [78:01]
2. Identify and defend core priorities Clarity about what matters simplifies every “yes” and “no.” Assignments that God entrusts in each season should rise to the top so attention and energy flow to what only one person can carry. Defining these priorities prevents good things from displacing the best things and protects others from unnecessary strain. Clear priorities shape sustainable rhythms for life and service. [72:42]
3. Family is first ministry Family responsibilities hold unique, irrepeatable authority and influence. Time invested in marriage and children renders a legacy of character and faith that no career accolade can replace. Choosing family presence over peripheral commitments yields deep spiritual fruit and prevents regret. God honors those who treat family as stewardship, not as an obstacle. [82:17]
4. Stop saying “I don’t have time” Language matters: “didn’t make time” acknowledges choice and restores agency. Owning decisions exposes where discipline, courage, or boundaries must change. Once framed as choice, priorities move from abstract guilt to concrete action steps that reorder days toward eternal impact. Honest speech frees reorientation and fuels lasting change. [92:11]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[03:04] - Psalm and Opening Worship
[03:33] - Seeking God’s Presence
[40:04] - Announcements and Events
[47:49] - Stewardship Theme Introduced
[48:39] - Stewardship of Time Defined
[49:08] - Scripture Readings: Ephesians & Matthew
[50:06] - Parable of the Talents Explained
[52:07] - Prayer and Reflection Pause
[53:51] - Brevity of Life and Time Audit
[58:12] - Rope Illustration: Time vs Eternity
[60:54] - Priorities, Rhythms, and Seasons
[63:44] - Biblical Examples: Acts and Delegation
[78:01] - Prioritize God, Family, and Kingdom
[93:18] - Practical Exercise and Response
[96:56] - Closing Prayer and Benediction

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
Ephesians 5:15-16 (ESV)
Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.

Matthew 25:14-30 (ESV)
The Parable of the Talents (read full passage for context).

Observation Questions

In the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30), what specific actions did the "good and faithful" servants take, and how did the master respond to the servant who buried his talent?
The sermon mentioned a "time audit" showing how much of life is spent on sleep, work, and screens. What practical example did the rope illustration provide about earthly time versus eternity? [58:38]
According to Acts 6:1-7 (referenced in the sermon), why did the apostles delegate tasks to others, and what was the result for the early church? [01:06:23]
What three principles did the sermon highlight for aligning priorities in every season of life? [01:11:21]

Interpretation Questions

Why does the master in Matthew 25:26 call the third servant "wicked and lazy" for burying his talent, even though the servant avoided risk? How does this relate to stewardship of time?
The sermon emphasized that "good things often crowd out the best things." How might this tension between "good" and "best" apply to modern distractions like screen time or overcommitment? [01:14:49]
In Acts 6:1-7, the apostles prioritized prayer and teaching over administrative tasks. Why is delegation essential for maintaining spiritual focus, and what happens when leaders neglect their core assignments? [01:05:05]
The rope illustration contrasted earthly time with eternity. How does recognizing life’s brevity (Psalm 90:12) shape our daily choices? [57:13]

Application Questions

If you conducted a "time audit" of your week, what activity surprised you the most? What one change could help reallocate time toward eternal priorities? [56:51]
Identify a current responsibility that only you can fulfill (e.g., parenting, a ministry role). What competing demand often distracts you from it, and how will you protect that priority this month? [01:12:42]
The sermon challenged replacing "I don’t have time" with "I didn’t make time." Where have you used "busyness" as an excuse, and what specific choice will you own this week to align with God’s priorities? [01:32:11]
Family was called the "first ministry." What one intentional habit (e.g., weekly dinner, device-free hours) could deepen your connection with your family this month? [01:22:17]
The parable of the talents rewards faithfulness, not outcomes. What "talent" (time, skill, resource) have you neglected to invest due to fear or complacency? What small step will you take to steward it boldly?
The apostles delegated tasks to focus on prayer and teaching. Is there a "good" task in your life that someone else could handle, freeing you for a "best" assignment? Name it and plan to release it. [01:09:24]

Sermon Clips

``We need to stop lying to ourselves and saying, I don't have time. And start saying the truth, I didn't make time. It wasn't a priority. You know, when we say I don't have time, it seems like there's some cosmo thing out there that is keeping us. It's out of our control. It's keeping us from being able to do the things that we're supposed to do. Man, I just ran out of time. I just ran out of time. No. The reality is I didn't make time. [01:32:04] (36 seconds) #MakeTimeNotExcuses

See, your priorities aren't what you say is important. It's actually what you spend your time on. It's what you put on your plate. You say, yeah. God's the most important thing in my life, but is he? Go look at your time. Do an assessment of your time. Most of our decisions in life about time are not between bad decisions. Well, that's a bad decision, and a good decision is between good and best. [01:14:30] (26 seconds) #TimeRevealsPriorities

But if you keep saying and I hear this all the time. Well, it's just a busy season for me. And you keep saying that over and over? Well, as soon as this project's over with, I'll have more time. When you keep saying that over and over, that's not a busy season. That's your life. You need to get real with yourself. My life has no margin for family in it. They're getting my leftovers. [01:26:10] (24 seconds) #BusyIsntExcuse

Family is not an inconvenience to your other priorities. It is the priority. Oh god. These kids. What? I have to do this? And God said, no. I put them in your life. They're not a waste of time. They should be your priority of your time. Husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. This means time is needed in order for that to happen. [01:23:13] (31 seconds) #FamilyIsPriority

I gotta leave. And he would withdraw withdraw. He withdrew to deserted places and prayed. In the middle of the chaos, in the middle of the clamoring, in the middle of all these pressing needs of all the things that people are I need this. I need this. Heal me. Heal me. All this kind of stuff. He says, I gotta get away because I recognize my priority. The most important thing I can do for these people is hang out with my heavenly father. I don't have anything to give them if I don't have it coming from him as my source. [01:19:37] (32 seconds) #PrayerRefill

I want you to take a quick assessment of your time. Is god central in the planning of your daily life? Is he the most important thing? Do are you thinking about him all the time? Are you asking him questions? Are you spending you give him the first I mean, before you move houses or cities, before you change jobs, before you buy that thing, before you marry that person, choose your church, whatever it is, before you make any major decision and you wake up each day and you say, Lord, what is your will for my life? [01:18:20] (36 seconds) #PutGodFirstDaily

Well, I don't know what yours is, but here's the thing. You can't accomplish everything that comes to your mind. You can accomplish everything that's in your heart, but here's what you can do. You can accomplish the bucket list that the father has for you. Amen. You can accomplish everything that he has designed for your life. So in a nutshell, stewarding your time means giving your best time to god's high highest priorities. [01:02:40] (24 seconds) #StewardTimeForGod

They realized if we get in the weeds of conflict, it's gonna take away our ability to pray, to preach god's word, to write the scriptures, to evangelize. So they picked these deacons to help share the load and and listen what the next line is in the scripture. So the word of god spread, the disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly in number, and a large group of priests became obedient to the faith. [01:06:02] (29 seconds) #ShareTheLoad

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