I couldn’t recommend more Alec MacKenzie’s book, “The Time Trap.” His common-sense approach to prioritising and organising the things that make up your day is as valuable today as it was when he penned it in 1972.
The ‘Top 20 Time Traps’ that block business people and technologists from achieving their goals do not require much adjusting to apply to our Christian walk. I have copied his list here:
1. Management by Crisis;
2. Telephone interruptions;
3. Inadequate planning;
4. Attempting too much;
5. Drop-in visitors;
6. Ineffective delegation;
7. Personal disorganization;
8. Lack of self-discipline;
9. Inability to say no;
10. Procrastination;
11. Meetings;
12. Paperwork;
13. Leaving tasks unfinished;
14. Inadequate staff;
15. Socializing;
16. Confused responsibility and authority;
17. Poor communication;
18. Inadequate controls and progress reports;
19. Incomplete information;
and 20. Travel.
Satan understands that Management by Crisis in one’s work and home life will translate quickly into Management by Crisis in one’s church life. Not only is it inherently unproductive, but it is also discouraging. Constant feelings of having very limited control over the outcome of anything, at work, home, or church, will build a culture of blame and sabotage.
The apostle Paul was concerned that a Christian must see his ‘walk-in Christ’ as time-sensitive. It is limited and must be spent discerning the ‘good thing to do’ in an evil world. He encourages:
“Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is” (Ephesians 5:15-17).
Filling our days with the will of God is every Christian’s goal. But Satan’s time-traps must be seen to be avoided.
Understand, our ability to manage God’s will is directly dependent upon our willingness to invest time in the Bible; there’s no other way!
John Staiger