Open Hands: Stewarding Our Time

Summary

This sermon launches the “Open Hands” series by examining Ephesians 5:15-16 and the call to steward our time as a gift that belongs to God. Pastor Orrin contrasts closed hands (control, scarcity, self-ownership) with open hands (trust, generosity, availability) and argues that stewardship of time begins with the theological conviction that everything we have comes from God. Believers are urged to live intentionally, invest in what has eternal value—especially discipleship—embrace rest as faithful stewardship, and respond with urgency because the days are evil.

Key Points from the Sermon

Everything we have, including time, is a gift from God and belongs to Him; stewardship, not ownership, is the proper posture (James 1:17; Romans 11:36)
Ephesians 5:15-16 calls believers to intentional, wise living. Wisdom in Scripture is not just knowing but doing, and walking wisely means deliberate attention to how we use our lives
Time is brief, valuable, and irrecoverable. Scripture repeatedly emphasizes the brevity of life (Psalm 39:4-5; James 4:14; Psalm 90:12), which should create urgency to invest in eternal priorities
Open-handed time stewardship means investing in discipleship and multiplication, passing on what we have learned to faithful people who can teach others (2 Timothy 2:2)
Rest is not wasted time but faithful stewardship. Rest demonstrates trust in God’s provision and prepares us to use our remaining time more wisely
The drift of our time always favors the world over the kingdom. Without intentionality, eternal priorities will consistently be crowded out by what is urgent but temporary

Scripture Readings

Ephesians 5:15-16 - The primary passage for the sermon — Paul’s command to walk wisely and make the best use of time because the days are evil

2 Timothy 2:1-2 - Paul’s charge to Timothy illustrating how time stewardship includes intentional discipleship and multiplication

Psalm 90:1-17 - (Emphasis on vs 12) Moses’ prayer that God would teach us to number our days, connecting the brevity of life to gaining a heart of wisdom

Discussion Questions

Read Ephesians 5:15-16

What instructions does Paul give in these two verses? What contrasts does he draw, and what reason does he give for this urgency?

Compare with Psalm 90:12 and James 4:14.

How do these Old and New Testament passages reinforce what Paul says in Ephesians 5? What picture of human life emerges from Scripture’s repeated emphasis on brevity?
The sermon distinguished between stewardship and ownership of time. Why is treating time as ‘mine to use however I want’ described as a theological error rather than simply a poor habit? How does James 1:17 shape our understanding?

Read 2 Timothy 2:1-2

Paul describes a chain of investment: Paul → Timothy → faithful men → others also. What does this passage reveal about what it means to use our time for things that will outlast us? Who are the ‘faithful people’ in your life you could be investing in?
The sermon posed three self-examination questions: Where does my time actually go? What does my schedule reveal about my trust in God? What eternal priorities are consistently being crowded out? Which of these three convicts you the most, and why?
The sermon described rest as faithful stewardship rather than wasted time. Do you tend more toward overwork and refusing to rest, or toward excessive comfort and avoiding the hard work of the kingdom? What would it look like for you to hold your time with ‘open hands’ this week?

Application

This Week’s Challenge: This week, track how you spend your time for three consecutive days (including one weekend day). At the end of those three days, review your log and identify: (1) one area where time is being consumed by what is urgent but temporary, and (2) one specific way you could redirect that time toward an eternal investment such as reaching out to disciple someone, having a gospel conversation, or serving in the body of Christ. Make one concrete change to your schedule this week based on what you discover.

Prayer Focus:

Pray Psalm 90:12

“So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.”

Pray that God would direct the desires of your heart to what is eternal rather than than what is temporary.

Memory Verse

“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” — Ephesians 5:15-16

Resources

Tyranny of the Urgent by Charles E. Hummel
Redeeming the Time: A Practical Guide to a Christian Man’s Time Management by Matt Perman