Overseer of God’s Remnant Assembly Akintayo Emmanuel Shares 3 Insights to Master the Art of Time Management

Why are some people capable of getting a tremendous amount done in a day, a week, a month, a year — and in the bigger picture, a lifetime — while others who have the same amount of time available to them, accomplish far less? Is it a question of luck? A matter of intelligence? According to the Overseer of God’s Remnant Assembly Akintayo Emmanuel, it’s none of the above. Rather, the ability to maximize and optimize one’s precious and constantly dwindling storehouse of time is rooted in three Biblical insights: not taking time for granted, being diligent and dutiful, and always remembering the Lord. Each of these is explored below.

Not Taking Time for Granted

Many people who struggle with time management spend an excessive amount of time making plans for the future, not realizing that tomorrow is promised to nobody. Proclaims James 4:13–14: “Now listen, you who say, `Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.’ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.”

Commented Akintayo Emmanuel, who in addition his calling with God’s Remnant Assembly also serves as President of Hear the Lord Ministries: obviously, there are things we aspire to do in the future that we cannot expect to achieve now or in the short-term. For example, if we want to become a doctor, then we must be prepared to spend several years learning and training before we achieve our goal. But there are many things in life that we can and should do now — or at least, get started on now — that we keep pushing to tomorrow, to next week, to next year, and so on. When we take time for granted, we are the architect of our own disappointment and misfortune. We cannot blame others or God.

Being Diligent and Dutiful

Some people who consider themselves reasonably proficient in time management nevertheless take a passive, disinterested approach to their work. While this is better than procrastinating, it’s certainly not ideal or optimal. Proclaims Ecclesiastes 9:10: “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.”

Akintayo Emmanuel states that the instruction in Ecclesiastes 9:10 does not tell us that we must work non-stop. We must also take time to rest, and to enjoy life with our families, friends, and those in our community. But when we are working on any task — whether it is performing our professional duties or cleaning our home — we should give it our full attention and do our best. A strong work ethic is an essential component of time management.”

Always Remembering the Lord

Life can get hectic and frenzied, and it’s often during those times when people forget the Lord — because they’re so distracted and occupied by problems, deadlines, distractions, and so on. However, this is when remembrance of the Lord is most important. Proclaims Psalm 55:16–17 As for me, I call to God, and the Lord saves me. Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice.”

According to Akintayo Emmanuel, whatever we do in our lives, we must carry the understanding that we are God’s employees. We work for Him. How much we get done is not as important as the intensity and consistency of our spiritual connection. Yes, it is important to be productive. But it is far more important to be an obedient, dutiful and loving child of God.