What To Do with Our Time

By Jim Deason

My grandmother once told me that “all work and no play makes’ Jack a dull boy” and my grandmother was most always right. If you were among those who listen to me preach on a regular basis you would find that I say a lot about my grandmother. She was a veritable storehouse of illustrations and information. She was a woman who loved God and godly people. Though there was always a place for hard work (she couldn’t abide with laziness) she knew how important it was for a young boy to learn how to laugh and enjoy life.

Solomon would have understood my grandmother. He said, “A joyful heart makes a cheerful face, But, when the heart is sad, the spirit is broken” (Prov. 15:13) and again, “A joyful heart is good medicine, But, a broken spirit dries up the bones” (Prov. 17:22). It is always to be understood that such merriment is to be kept in proper perspective with regard to the expenditure of both time and money. Solomon taught, “He who loves pleasure will become a poor man” (Prov. 21:17). Excess in most anything is not good. Recreation is an important part of our lives but it must be governed by certain principles. Here a few questions that I found from some long-forgotten source that can help you as you determine how you spend your leisure time.

1. Is it right?

2. Do godly people generally, do it?

3. Will it interfere with my family, school, or work?

4. Will it produce good or bad habits?

5. Will it lead into the places that are questionable?

6. Will my example and influence be injurious to others?

7. Will I associate with questionable people to be amused?

8. Can I afford the cost of time and money?

9. Do I have other obligations that should be paid first?

10. Is this amusement building or destroying my family?

11. Do I spend more time being amused than worshiping?

12. Would the Lord be amused by what I am amused?

13. Would my actions and deeds during this amusement please Jesus?

What is Christianity?

In the home – it is kindness.

In business – it is honesty.

In society – it is courtesy.

In work – it is fairness.

Toward the unfortunate – it is assistance.

Toward the weak – it is help.

Toward the penitent – it is forgiveness.

Toward wickedness – it is resistance.

Toward the fortunate – it is congratulation.

Toward God – it is reverence and service.

From a church bulletin dated 1947

The Gospel Is Good News

By Jim Deason

If someone discovered a foolproof cure for cancer you would expect him to shout it from the highest mountain. It would be criminal to keep such good news a secret. You would expect even the most-greedy of money-mongers to share his knowledge with folks whose lives are on the line. It is true that bad news often travels faster than good, but when good news is of such a critical nature it must be shared.

The best of all news is not of a remedy for some physical malady. Rather, that Jesus Christ has come into the world to save sinners. The angel announced to the shepherds, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11). Jesus commanded that this gospel or good news be preached “to all creation” (Mark 16:15). He wanted everyone to know about His plan to redeem man.

In a day in which we are bombarded from every direction with bad news, we need to hear something good. We need good news. And the gospel of Jesus Christ is good news.

The gospel is good news because it settles our past. Is there something in your past that you wish you hadn’t said or done? Is there something that you hope no one ever comes to know because of the shame it could cause you? Something you have a hard time letting go or forgiving yourself for? Are you not able to do your best today because yesterday just won’t let you go? There’s good news! The gospel settles all of that! When the people of the New Testament city of Corinth looked back, they saw an ugly past; a past filled with fornication, adultery, homosexuality, theft, drunkenness, and a host of other shameful sins. But in hearing, believing, and obeying the gospel they had been washed, sanctified, and justified in Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 6:9-11). In Christ they had become new creatures with their past behind them. Friend, it can be with you just like it was with them. No matter what is in your past, with the gospel you can put it behind you.

The gospel is good news because it gives meaning for the present. The volume of bad news that we hear today is testimony to the fact that we live in the midst of masses who have no direction and no purpose in their lives. The gospel gives us a reason to live. We are saved to serve. After Jesus had washed the disciples’ feet he commanded them, “If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet” (John 13:14). Jesus was commanding his disciples to be selfless servants. This was the badge of identification that they would wear before all men. It was what set them apart from the rest of the world (John 13:34-35). Serving one another gives us a purpose, a reason for living. It is more than what we do, it is who we are! No matter how shallow or meaningless you may feel your life to be, Jesus can give you meaning and direction for a rich, rewarding life.

The gospel is good news because it assures our future. Peter rejoiced in that he had been born again unto a “living hope” which included “an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven...” (1 Pet. 1:3-4). There were certainly things in his life that had brought him a lot of shame. Yet, having obtained forgiveness in Jesus, he was looking to the future. Jesus had gone to build an eternal home for his people (John 14:1-3) and Peter was confident that one of those rooms was reserved in his name. That’s why he kept his faith in Jesus Christ. And herein is the good news- we can anticipate that same reward. Friend, your life, like that of a lot of folks, may look a little bleak sometimes. You may not know how tomorrow’s bills will be paid. You may be in fear of what the doctor’s report will tell you. But faith in and obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ can help us look beyond things here and give us an eternal perspective. And that’s good news.

What about you? What’s your life like? If you haven’t obeyed the gospel your past is unsettled, you have no meaningful purpose or direction in life and there’s no future to which to look forward. But with Jesus Christ there’s a better way. If you want to learn more about the gospel and God’s plan for your life, I’m always available. Let us be of service to you.