Ever since man was kicked out of the Garden of Eden (which means pleasure) and lost God’s presence, he has attempted to invent ways to replace what he lost. In Genesis chapter 4, Cain killed his brother Abel then proceeded to build a city and produce a culture without God. Cain’s descendants began to provide for themselves by raising cattle and making tents to live in. They protected themselves by forging weapons. Finally, they entertained themselves by inventing musical instruments.
satan’s strategies
When satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness, he did so in these three ways. He told Jesus to turn the stones into bread for His provision. He told Jesus to jump off the temple and a legion of angels would protect Him. Finally, he offered Jesus the whole world and all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. Jesus didn’t take it. He overcame Satan’s temptation and now it’s our turn.
Thousands of years later, not much has changed. The difference is that we have a lot more ways to provide for ourselves, protect ourselves and please ourselves.
Here are a few numbers I found that show what we are buying/consuming/ being consumed by.
In one year, the automotive industry makes $1.5 Tril, the fast food industry makes $142 Bil, the music industry makes $40 Bil, the fashion industry makes $47 Bil, the film industry makes $65 Bil, the video game industry makes $41.9 Bil and the Defense Department spends $663.8 Bil.
The following link shows what percent of our paycheck goes where.
http://www.visualeconomics.com/how-the-average-us-consumer-spends-their-paycheck/
The Bad News
The bad news is our jobs consume us and have become a huge distraction from God. People are spending more time at work to make more money, for what? We work so much so we can please ourselves with so many things we think can satisfy us. Even if we get everything we want, we still worry about protecting it. This is why we have home security systems, car insurance, health insurance, life insurance… I even have cell phone insurance. In the past, my cell phone has been a huge distraction from God. Even before iphones it was easy to veg out and play snake for hours, trying to beat your friend’s high score. Now, phones can browse the internet. We all know how much time is lost there.
I want to use my phone and use the internet to redeem the time (Ephesians 5:16) . If you do too, start reading the Bible on your phone and text your friends what you read. The Bible is more important than all of the other things we spend our time doing and best of all, it’s free! Check out the free Recovery Version Study Bible.
This version is given away free by Bibles For America.
You can also download the Bible for your phone with the Youversion App.
The Good News
The good news is God wants to be our Provision, Protection, and Pleasure. We can see this in the Bible. Psalm 34 is a good chapter that shows us God is our provision. Psalm 34:8 says ‘Taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him.’ Psalm 34:10 says ‘The young lions hunger and starve, But those who seek the Lord will not lack any good thing.’
God is our protection in Psalm 61:3, ‘For you are a refuge to me, A strong tower before the enemy.’ Also good is Proverbs 18:10 ‘The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous man runs into it and is safe.’ That’s awesome! We can run into a strong tower by calling on the Lord’s name. Our running equals our calling. “LORD JESUS!!! The very next verse, Proverbs 18:11 says, ‘The rich man’s substance is his strong city and like a high wall in his own imagination. Before destruction the heart of man is haughty.’ “LORD JESUS!!!” God is our pleasure in Psalm 43:4 ‘I will go to the altar of God, To God my exceeding joy; and I will praise you with the harp, O God, my God.’ Finally, Romans 5:11 says “We also joy in God’ (KJV).
I hope I helped you redeem some time today. To redeem some more time, please add to this. I know there are many more verses to include.
DROD'S BLOG 
The verse I enjoyed today was “Guard your heart above all that you guard, for out of it are the issues of life.” I am sorry not to recall the Bible reference, only that these words have been a salvation to me many times. They are spoken by God to a person who has a heart like ‘fly paper’. Many things stick to me that do not please God. I have to repent for this, and seek Him over & over. He never fails to satisfy my heart with Himself.
We need a city, we need food, we need to work, we need a phone, we need a car, etc – we NEED many things for our basic existence. But when they distract us from God, when they take over our entire time, energy, end even our being, then we are being usurped by the enemy of God!
So… we need to learn to redeem the time! Redeem the time in the car. Redeem the time at work. Redeem the time when we shop. Redeem the time when we are on the phone. Redeem the time – by enjoying Christ, reading the Bible, praying, turning to our spirit, and having much fellowship with the Lord!
We need to personally discover many ways to redeem the time and enjoy Christ even while using these things that are necessary for our existence and protection, and Christ will become so rich, so real, and so sweet to us!
Amen. Redeem the time.
David: thanks for ending with the Good News.
It seems ironic the computer is one of the worse ‘time stealers’…yet we use it for so many things. I try to limit my use to keeping up with significant friends and their facebook pictures…their burdens, cares, and joys. Before I know it an hour has passed that seemed like 15 minutes.
I like this word about redeeming the time. Here is some more good news: Rev 3:8 “I know your works; behold, I have put before you an opened door which no one can shut, because you have a little power and have kept My word and have not denied My name.”
Time is a commodity that one cannot buy. Yes,redeem the time while it is called Now to exercise to turn our heats to Him !
Amen!
Redeem our time for the Lord!
Amen! Lord, be the Overcomer in me to help me avoid distractions and redeem the time to spend it with you by calling on Your name throughout the day, by setting a daily pray-reading schedule, by phoning the saints, by singing Hymns and by enjoying You overall! Praise and thank You Lord!