They Play and Fool Away Their Precious Time
We must value and use our time wisely, as it is a precious and limited commodity that we can never get back.
Thomas Brooks emphasizes the extreme value of time, urging listeners to recognize its brevity and preciousness. He warns that time is a commodity that cannot be redeemed once lost, and in hell, one would trade anything for just a moment to repent. Brooks laments how many squander their time on trivial pursuits, leading to sorrow and darkness at the end of life. He calls for a serious reflection on how we use our time, encouraging a fervent pursuit of holiness before it's too late. The sermon serves as a wake-up call to prioritize spiritual growth and redemption.
Text
Think on the brevity, shortness, and preciousness of time.
Time is so precious a thing, that mountains of gold and
rocks of pearl, cannot redeem one lost moment!
Ah, what a precious commodity would time be in hell,
where for one day to repent, yes, for one hour to seek
after holiness--a man would give ten thousand worlds,
were they in his hands to dispose of.
Time is so costly a jewel that few know how to value
it and prize it at a due rate. Most are lavishly and
profusely wasteful of that precious time which is their
greatest interest to redeem! Time is a precious talent,
yet most trifle away, play away, idle away, yes,
grossly sin away their precious time! They play
and fool away their precious time, until the
candle of life goes out, and then they go to their
graves in sorrow, yes, then go to hell in the dark!
He who makes no conscience of trifling away
his precious time, shall one day experience the
terribleness of eternal darkness.
The poets paint time with wings--to show the rapidity
and swiftness of it. O sirs, if the sense of the brevity,
shortness, and preciousness of time did but lie in its
full weight upon your spirits, it would certainly put
you upon a speedy and earnest pursuit after holiness!
Sermon Outline
- The Preciousness of Time
- Time is a precious commodity
- Time is costly and valuable
- We often waste and misuse our time
Key Quotes
“Time is so precious a thing, that mountains of gold and rocks of pearl, cannot redeem one lost moment!” — Thomas Brooks
“He who makes no conscience of trifling away his precious time, shall one day experience the terribleness of eternal darkness.” — Thomas Brooks
Application Points
- We must make a conscience of valuing and using our time wisely.
- Pursuing holiness is essential to making the most of our time.
- The sense of the brevity and preciousness of time should motivate us to seek God with earnestness.