Biblical Time Management Assignment
Emmanuel J. Augustine
CLED 365: The Personal Development of a Leader
January 2024
Introduction
Time. Time just continually moves, doesn’t need you, it doesn’t need anyone, it just
keeps moving. With that said, who doesn’t want to be more effective and efficient with
everything they’re doing? We have so much to juggle. The balancing act of family, employment,
fitness levels, hobbies and friends can all be mildly overwhelming. The following assignment
will focus on significance of time management becoming more about managing priorities. We
need to manage our priorities to maximize the time we have.
How Christ Managed Time
Jesus is incredibly effective and efficient. He operated on a (3) year mission timeline, and
within that period he accomplishes more than any other person in history, leaving little doubt to
question whether his ministry was fruitful. In John chapter 4, Jesus leaves from Judea and
traveled to Galilee. At the time culture boundaries were rooted in long held hostility that most
Jews would walk the long way around the Samarians. Jesus employed efficiency, cuts through
Samaria and takes the shortest route possible. “Christ understood his mission…from where
Christ stood, he saw fit that the time was well spent.”1 While in Samaria is where we get the
famous story about Christ meeting the woman at the well. Christ doesn’t make mistakes and in
the moment the priority wasn’t getting to Judea but shifted to the woman and a lesson to be
taught to his followers. Christ emphasizes the importance of priorities “The harvest is plentiful,
but the workers are few.” (Matthew 9:36-38).2 It’s amazing how we’re able to find time for the
things we want to do, rather than need to do. Like a television show or driving (15) minutes out
1 Gordon MacDonald, “Ordering Your Private World” Thomas Nelson, Nashville, TN. 2007
2 Unless otherwise noted, all biblical passages referenced employ the New International Version
Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1986
of the way for Starbucks. Christ simultaneously delivered a message to his followers about
budgeting time to help others. “The most central principle of organization is time must be
budgeted.”3
Christ was both fully human and fully God and was very much aware of his humanly
limitations. He grew tired (John 4:6), hungry (Mark 11:12, and thirsty (John 19:28). Christ
couldn’t spend all his time performing miracles or preaching to the masses. Christ chose to
submit his divine power and nature over to his Father’s will for us and for our salvation.
Lastly, we understand that prayer and a good prayer life is essential to a Christian as we
are commanded in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17 “Pray without ceasing, give thanks in all
circumstances; for this is the will of God”. Christ took it a step further and taught us how to pray.
You don’t have to take time to kneel for prayer. You can pray all the time. Prayer doesn’t have to
be alone or at a particular time of day. Our prayers can be brief or lengthy according to the need
or circumstance. Jesus provided us with the exacts word to pray because our father delights to
hear his children speak to him.
Laws of Unmanaged Time
The assigned author for our course text, MacDonald, speaks of (4) laws of unmanaged
time how if left unattended can severely prohibit the task or organization at hand.
- “Unmanaged time flows towards my weakness”4 According to the law, disorganization
will play on one’s weaknesses, since it is the path of least resistance. They won’t be able
to capitalize on their strengths. Leaders might do tasks that should have been assigned to
3 iBid
4 iBid
subordinates or teammates, who could complete them much more efficiently. Ideally, a
leader should do talent management, and already know subordinates’ strengths and
weaknesses so they can handle what’s given to them.
- “Unmanaged time comes under the influence of dominant people in my world”5
According to this law distractions and influences can potentially be debilitating. Without
organization, distractions are magnified, and the author wants us to avoid them.
Backwards planning is huge. Leave early to avoid traffic and allow time for small talk
and greetings associated with work or school.
- “Unmanaged time surrenders to the demands of all emergencies”6 There is a close
relationship between this law and the second, namely that if time is mismanaged, one can
become crippled to any attention chosen or unwanted, and/or any emergency that may
develop. There’s no doubt that genuine emergencies can arise at any time, but smaller
ones can already be addressed. Perform preventative maintenance checks and services on
your vehicle, to avoid breakdowns. Surround yourself with healthy snacks, to avoid
frequent trips to the doctor's office or emergency room.
- “Unmanaged time gets invested in things than gain public acclimation.”7 In the author’s
view, the unaccounted time segments which are unproductive will be seized by things
and people promoting instant gratification.
Christ Time Management Model Application
5 iBid
6 iBid
7 iBid
Again, we can all find the balancing act of day-to-day life to be both annoying and worth
wild at the same time. There’s no better to model time and priority management than Christ. He
uniquely maintained a balance between ministry, and his humanly needs. He did this by maintain
an intimate relationship with God and having a clear understanding of his life’s mission.
Christ established priorities. An individual in their teens or 20’s can easily muster up the
energy needed to go workout after a long day of work, but for a person in their 30’s or 40’s a
disciplined nature must take effect. This is clear of Christ from the gospels. After a long day of
healing people “The people tried to keep him from leaving, but he said I must proclaim the good
news of the kingdom of God to the other towns, because that is why I was sent.” (Luke 4:42-43).
The military does an awesome job at delegation. In the military each subordinate’s role is
to achieve what’s known as “commander’s intent”, which is the desired end state of the mission.
A clear and concise statement of the purpose of the operation and must be understood by all.
Jesus equipped his subordinates. Christ, by training, envisioning, and delegating, he did not try to
do everything himself, but rather focused on equipping others with the skills they needed.
Conclusion
In closing, we don’t have control of time. It moves constantly without ceasing and at the
same pace. It moves whether we’re awake, asleep, under duress and exuberance all the same.
The time that we have on this earth is finite and has an end point. To use that time wisely we
must follow the example set forth by Christ and manage our priorities. Doing what we must to
fulfill the priority obligation at the opportune time.
