Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1908-03-04
CHRISTIAN ENDEAvOR.
Prayer Meeting Topic For the Week
Beginning March 8, 1908.

Topic.-The wise use of time.-Eph. Y.
l5-A.
The expression 'redeening the time"
used by the apostle in the para
graph before US is a peculiar one, and
the authorized version scarcely ex-
presses its true meaning In the origi-
nal it means buying up for yourselves
the opportunity" The idea intended
to be conveyed is THAT of 4 merchant
who, knowing the value of an article
and the good use to which he can put
1t, buys it up" But the element of
time is. however. involved in the buy
ing UP or taking advantage Of good OPP
portunities. Success or failure depends
upon our timeliness in seizing the OPP
portunity to do good or to achieve Il
great purpose that God has offered to
us. There is tide in the affairs of
men," but we must take it at the tiood
If we are to win the victory it affords.
Otherwise defeat and failure are the
result. In a general way the wise use
of time is the use of it in such a way
as to make tie best use of every OBJ
portun;ty that is Afforded to US. Time
Is but aG0taer .a:se for opportunity.
The wise use of time is only possible
when we realize the importance OF
time Throughout the ages the teach
ers of men have emphasized the vital
Importance of using time well. 1t is
one of the most valuable assets that
God has given TO man; but. like every
other gift of God, its value will depend
upon the use Iye make of il. We have
all the time That any one else in the
world has, I'll the time that there is.
but he is ini eeJ Il wise man who uses
it all to the lest advantage. But all
should strive to be wise in this re-
spect. mo enc should allow a mort
gage to be p..ced upon his opportuni-
ties" Time waits for no man. In the
strict sense, it can never be redeemed
The man who procrastinates. the man
who wastes time, loses that which can
never be recalled. The second JUS
passed has already gone into the eter-
nal past and can never return. mon
arch may cry. Millions for an inch of
timer but the only answer is the pass
ing of more time while he vainly cries
for 1t. What We do we must do quick
" and promptly. else 1t never can be
done at the moment allotted to it.
The wise use of time is impera tive.
because 1t SO swiftly and silently pass
es from US. The Romans had an
adage, "Tempus fugit' C'Time fies''l,
and to the man who uses his time
properly it does fly. If time hangs
heavy on our hands, If to US it seems
to have no wings, we may rest assured
that we are not using it well. How
silently also does time fly! No bugle
call announces its arrival and de-
parture. Well hath the poet said
With what gentle foot doth silent Time
Steal on his everlasting journey!
How important then. the proper
and best use of every moment of our
time. The use of what we call the
''odd moments may become mighty
factor in cur lives. Some men have
accomplished more in their odd mo-
ments than others in the time they
devote TO the regular pursuits of life
William Carey, the consecrated cob
" =
on the wall of his shop map of the
world showing in blackness the uh-
saved parts of the world. How well
he cobbled shoes the world little re-
membered and little cared, but so long
as time shall last the product of his
odd moments and its subsequent ire
mendous results will be held in crate
full remembrance.
The example Of Christ should in
spire US to the wise use of time.
With zeal, with energy sublime
Mark how the Saviour valued time.
The work of centuries appears
Crowded within His three short years.
Richard Bakers words concerning
the way to spend time are worthy of
our most serious attention: Spend
your time in nothing which you know
must be repented Of Spend it in
nothing on which you might not ask
the blessing Of God. Spend it in moth
ing which you could not review with
quiet conscience on your dying bed.
Spend it in nothing which you might
not safely and properly be doing if
death should surprise you in the act"
BIBLE HEADINGS.
Ps. lxxxix, Al; &c. -; Prov. vi, Gil;
Eccl. ill. 1-S; tx. 10; xii. 1: John tx. 4
Rom. xiii 1l-14; II Pet. iii, ZIP; Rev.
I, 5, 8.