The Bible is old and provides life advice, but much has changed since it was written. Can we find time management wisdom in it, considering ancient people had fewer worries? This article explores relevant Bible verses for today, based on the “Time Management Principles From God’s Word” reading plan: https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/11397-time-management-principles-from-gods-word

The Bible Teaches Us to Be Present

Being “here and now” is trendy today. Despite time management tech, worries have increased. Did ancient people face this? Passages suggest yes.

James 4:

13 Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.

Proverbs 21:

5 The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.

John 9:

As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work.

The first verse might seem lazy, but it highlights focusing on the present, what we truly control. The future depends on today’s actions, or is beyond our control.

Priorities

Luke 10:

38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” 41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

We often judge Martha for neglecting Jesus. But we are all Marthas sometimes, struggling to prioritize. We must choose what’s truly important now from our tasks.

Without Labor…

Proverbs 21:

5 The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.

Labor takes time. Don’t fear or avoid it. Teach young people to work; otherwise, poverty may follow, even after a privileged upbringing.

Labor Must Be Smart Too (or was the God the Project Manager too?)

Success requires knowing how to work, not just hard work.

Luke 14:

28 “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? 29 For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, 30 saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’

“Calculations” mean planning and learning from experienced people, not just “measure twice, cut once.”

Just say no

It might be not that easy to just say no to things.

29And forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30 But Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick of a fever, and anon they tell him of her. 31 And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them. 32 And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils. 33 And all the city was gathered together at the door. 34 And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him. 35 And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed. 36 And Simon and they that were with him followed after him. 37 And when they had found him, they said unto him, All men seek for thee. 38 And he said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth.

Perhaps - to be able to say “no” - we really need to understand - to what thing should we say “yes”. What is the most important in our lives, that we need to protect, what is our “mission” or task or calling, so that we could say “no” to other things.