Idle Time

There is a big difference between down time (rest and relax) and idle time (listless and directionless). Down time is what God created the Sabbath for, an opportunity for us to recharge, renew and get ready for what is to come next. But idle time is rarely good and never good over a long period of time. Idle time is when we disengage and let our minds wander and dwell on things better left alone. It often offers Satan a little crack into our minds that he can’t wait to exploit, and once he begins to feed us lies it is hard to get him stopped.
In 1 Thessalonians 5 Paul wrote these words, “Hold on to what is good. Stay away from every kind of evil.” See, the word “hold” is an active word. You cannot be idle and holding on at the same time. “Idle” is relaxed and uninvolved, “holding on” is engaged and putting forth effort. When we are idle we slide into evil. It takes no effort on our part; it is a normal result of our natural man. But when we hold on to what is good, the truth about Jesus, the words of God, we are holding on to the very things that keep us from evil.
This week can I encourage you, don’t allow yourself to be idle. Instead, use that time to “hold on to what is good.” You will be happy you did.

-Pastor Tim