How the Gospel Shapes Our Schedules
What Time Is It?
Everyone today seems pressed for time. Our calendars are crowded, our phones are buzzing, and our minds are often running faster than our bodies can keep up. We live in a culture that celebrates busyness as a badge of honor, but underneath the surface many of us feel exhausted, distracted, and guilty for never doing enough. In the middle of that tension, Scripture reminds us that time is not ultimately ours. It belongs to God.
That means time management is more than productivity tips or organizational hacks. It’s a matter of stewardship. If God has entrusted us with days and hours, then how we use them reveals what we value most. And because the gospel has changed our lives, it must also change how we spend our time.
Time Is a Gift from God
Moses prayed, “So teach us to number our days, that we may present to You a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12). The wisdom of numbering our days is simply this: life is brief, and every day is a gift. James reminds us that we are “just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away” (James 4:14). If we grasp that reality, we will stop treating time as if it were unlimited.
Time management begins with humility. It requires us to acknowledge that God gives us every breath and every moment. We are not the owners of our time; we are stewards of it. Like money, talents, or spiritual gifts, time is entrusted to us for God’s glory, not our own purposes.
This radically reframes the way we think about our schedules. Instead of asking, “What do I want to do today?” we should begin to ask, “What does God want me to do with the time He has given me?” That perspective doesn’t devalue work, recreation, or daily responsibilities. It appreciates them more—because even the smallest tasks can be done for the Lord when they are received as a gift of time from His hand.
The Tyranny of the Urgent vs. the Priority of the Eternal
We’ve all experienced the tyranny of the urgent. Emails, notifications, and deadlines scream for our attention, while the things that matter most quietly wait in the background. Luke 10 shows us this dynamic in the home of two sisters. Martha busied herself with preparations, while Mary sat at Jesus’ feet, listening to His word. Martha was “worried and bothered about so many things,” but Jesus said only one thing was truly necessary (Luke 10:41–42).
The lesson is not that work doesn’t matter. Meals need to be made, jobs need to be done, and responsibilities must be carried out. The lesson is that eternal things must always take priority over urgent things. Sitting at the feet of Jesus will never feel urgent, but it is always essential.
When we choose urgent over eternal, we are essentially saying that what shouts the loudest deserves our time. But when we prioritize the eternal, we are saying that Christ deserves our best attention all the time. True time management means learning to discern the difference.
Redeeming the Time Through Christ
Paul exhorted the Ephesian church: “Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:15–16). To “redeem” the time carries the idea of buying it back from wastefulness and dedicating it to Christ.
The reality is that all of us have squandered time. We’ve wasted hours in distraction, days in idleness, and even years chasing things that don’t last. But the gospel changes everything. In Christ, wasted lives are redeemed. Because He lived perfectly in obedience to the Father—never wasting a single moment—we now have the hope of forgiveness and the power of the Spirit to live intentionally.
Redeemed time looks different. It doesn’t mean cramming our schedules full, but it does mean ordering them around what matters most. It means our calendars reflect that we belong to Christ. Worship, discipleship, evangelism, and acts of love are no longer afterthoughts squeezed into the margins. They become the framework around which everything else is arranged.
Practical Rhythms for Stewarding Time Wisely
If time management is a gospel issue, then the way we structure our days should look distinctly Christian. Here are four rhythms that help us steward our time in light of eternity:
Start with God’s Word: Before emails, news, or social media, begin with Scripture and prayer. God’s Word reorients our perspective and sets the tone for the rest of the day.
Plan with Eternity in Mind: It’s been said that if you fail to plan, you plan to fail. So look at your weekly schedule and ask: Is my schedule Kingdom oriented? Have I prioritized family discipleship, church involvement, and opportunities to share the gospel? Planning is not unspiritual—it is wise stewardship when done with God’s glory in view.
Leave Room: Jesus often withdrew to pray and created space for rest. A gospel-centered approach to time management includes margin for people, interruptions, and rest. Without it, we will burn out and miss opportunities to love others well.
Learn to Say No: Not every good opportunity is a God-honoring one. Time stewardship requires discernment. Saying “yes” to too many things often means saying “no” to the best things.
Now’s the Time
Christ is the ultimate model of time stewardship. Although He only lived 33 years, every moment was perfectly aligned with His Father’s will. He never wasted a moment, acted without purpose, or lost sight of His mission. At the cross He declared, “It is finished” (John 19:30), proving that He accomplished everything the Father gave Him to do.
Because Christ has redeemed us, we can now redeem the time. Our schedules are not our own; they are bought with a price. Every hour we are given is an opportunity to live for His glory. So let’s resist the tyranny of the urgent, prioritize the eternal, and steward our days with joy. The gospel makes time management more than self-help—it makes it worship.