…” and those who use the world [taking advantage of its opportunities], as though they did not make full use of it. For the outward form of this world [its present social and material nature] is passing away.” 1 Corinthians 7:31

 Before we get into today’s teaching, let’s first define the word, use.  The proper ‘how to’ of using a thing, as referenced in our Scripture verse.

Use:The privilege or benefit of using something…

In Chapter Seven, Paul deals with questions asked him in a letter by the Christians in Corinth.

Today, for the purpose of this teaching, we’ll focus only on verse 31 of this informative, ‘how-to’ Chapter. We’ll look at how our hearts and minds ought to view the ‘things’ we’re given—even those, especially those, that are pleasant and seem good to us. And, how the viewing of them, these, ‘things’, directly affects how we ought to be experiencing the passing of time…

This topic, the proper use of things, is one the Holy Spirit has dealt with me on. And, as with all messages He gives, they’re first run, as a heart check, through me, and only then, passed on to you. My prayer for you before we move on is that you allow God to have His perfect way in you. Accomplishing all that He wills in and through you as you read on, and always…

So, now, as we jump in, Scripture, as it should always be, will be our guide today. Our foundation, our facilitator, in getting us started in the right direction. Paul, in part, is teaching us in this chapter to have, ‘imminent thinking’, just as he has had. To be ever aware that at any moment, quite literally, Jesus will return. It’s not a, ‘He might’ thing—rather, it’s a He will!

It’s written in Stone…

Paul cautions us in today’s verse to be vigilant—always at the ready! He is simply reiterating for us what Jesus said to us in Matthew 24:44: “Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

So let me ask you, “Are you ready to meet Jesus? If not, now, today is being afforded you the opportunity to!…

As Christians—followers of Christ, He calls us to live our lives in imminent expectancy—Listen: “Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths, And my age is as nothing before You; Certainly every man at his best state is but vapor” (Psalm 39:5, emphasis my own). In other words, regardless of how long you may live—it’s only but a moment when compared to our eternity…

Once we—through the revelation of the Holy Spirit, grasp just how fleeting our time on earth is, it should bring about a change in the way we desire to use this time we’ve been blessed with. Though we’re free to choose how we use what we’ve been given, if you call yourself a Christian—if you know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, then you should always—in all you do, (not just in marriage, as Paul was referring, but also in relationships, work, good deeds, with your possessions, or within your ministry), have your eyes focused on eternity. On Jesus. Being good stewards of whatever time we’ve been given. So, now that we have a biblical direction in place pointing us towards—our due north, concerning how it is we should wisely use our time, let’s look next at how we ought to be regarding—dealing with, the ‘things’ in our lives.

We should never lose sight of why we are here and what God’s purpose in having given us— gifted us, with anything, is truly for.  And that is to be used to advance the will of God and His Kingdom. They were not given, these blessings and talents, so that, he with the most toys at the end wins! Quite the contrary. Everything we have been given, and all that we do with it should bring glory to God. Everything. “So then, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of [our great] God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).

I don’t know about you, but I have a propensity—a bent, towards allowing stuff, things, possessions, even time, to get the best of me. Let me explain…

If I am not watchful, and too often, if I’m being transparent here, I’m not, I allow the enemy to slip in through the crack in the door my lack of humility creates. Next thing I know I find myself thinking that all the stuff in my life (for the sake of this teaching I’ll focus on material, tangible, things such as my home, furniture, car, possessions) is actually mine. And, mind you, to a certain degree it is mine. But not for the reasons the enemy is promoting. Pride in self, in my accomplishments, in what I’ve done. Think King Nebuchadnezzar here, you can read it for yourself if you’re not familiar (Daniel 4:28-30). Rather, everything is mine because God in His infinite love and through His provisional care, choose to bless me with it—has provided it for my use. And it is, and forever will be, His choosing to bless me, not anything I’ve done or given to myself, that has brought any of it into existence—contrary to how strenuously the world may disagree with that line of Truth… “O LORD our God, all this abundance that we have provided to build You a house for Your holy name, it is from Your hand, and all is Yours” (1 Chronicles 29:16).

Yes we work. We partner with God. But before we were ever able to do so, He had to have first equipped us to do so. Who provided us the job? Deeper, who gifted us with the talents and abilities to do said job once it was given to us? You get where this is going? Which  brings me to the root of this teaching. The ‘how to’ of using the things God has given us—gifted you and I with.

And more, deeper still, the ‘heart-attude’ in which they should be honored…

As with all things given us by the Lord we should hold our belongings loosely—with an open hand.

How we hold what’s given us mirrors back at us the condition of our hearts…

The posture of our heart is a direct indication whether we’re grateful, faithful, and trusting in God. Whether we’re looking for ways—opportunities, to share with others, all that God has blessed us with. Is our hand open to allow ‘all who will’ to partake(Revelation 22:17 )? Do we see—think of, all that we’ve been freely given rightly—through the Perfect lens of Scripture? Do we view every-thing we’ve been blessed with as a tool to be used, in some small or great way, for advancing The Kingdom of God?

As a key that unlocks the blessings for future generations?

Do we use everything to demonstrate the love of Jesus to a lost, a dark, and a dying world? Or, are we, like the world, blinded by a heart whose roots got tangled up in the wrong soil? Producing within us the fruit of selfish ambitions? Have we allowed so much of the world to seep in, that we’ve lost sight, however briefly, of eternity? Are we scared that if we share—give of what we have, we might run out ourselves? Ugly I know, but is it possible that our  perceived or perhaps tangible tastes of lack have allowed us to believe that we might lose all that we’ve wrongly chosen to hold dear? That if we don’t keep our hand closed, perhaps someone else will come and steal it—what’s ours! And so, in fear, we close—ball up our hand into a fist. We close off any chance of anyone taking anything that’s ours…

The problem with that isn’t so much about the posture of the hand, though wrong and harmful, as it is the posture of the heart…

Fix the heart and the hand will follow. Time is short. Any ‘thing’ that you’ve ever called your own is a gift from God. Ask the Holy Spirit to do a heart check in you today. Use the tools  you’ve been blessed with wisely—keeping your eyes fixed on eternity always…

I remind you of this Truth today because the Holy Spirit first reminded me…

My hand is open to you, come, take what you will. As I’ve been given, I freely give. “Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend [to show rage or worthy purpose]” (Proverbs 27:17).

If you have not asked Jesus to be your Lord and Savior, now is the acceptable time. If you’ve felt Him tugging at your heart as you read these words today, please friend, answer Him with a resounding and heartfelt, “Here I am Lord!”