Time Bandits: Putting First Things First (LifeChange Books) [Hardcover]

Stuart Briscoe (Author)

Book Description

Series: LifeChange Books | Publication Date: March 3, 2005

Who Is Stealing Your Time?

Each day, there are things you know you have to do. Then there are things you really ought to do, plus things you desperately want to do. But how do we find time for it all? Stuart Briscoe, former senior pastor of Elmbrook Church in Brookfield, Wisconsin, presents an outstanding commentary on evaluating our priorities so that the concerns of this world do not rob us of our valuable time. Prioritizing our lives isn’t easy, particularly when we consider the conflict that can arise between doing what is good and being comfortable, popular, and profitable. But Briscoe calls Christians to boldly address any areas of selfishness and to begin to see life through kingdom eyes. When we do, our priorities will change to focus on goodness, righteousness, and truth.

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness.”

—Jesus (Matthew 6:33 )

It sounds great in theory to seek God’s kingdom first, but is it really feasible? So many things rob your precious time that you wonder if you can afford to bump everything else in your life to secondary status.

But this is not about prioritizing. This is a matter of heart. While you long for harmony in your harried schedule and significance amidst the busyness, God yearns to give them to you. Stuart Briscoe’s insights will guide you to the focused, fulfilling life you long for. Because once you begin seeking the Lord before all else, all else simply falls into place.

What are you waiting for? You have no time to waste.

Story Behind the Book

Stu Briscoe travels more than he is home, so time is a premium for him and his wife, Jill. He has found that the only way to stay focused on his life and ministry is to put first things first and not allow those things that attempt to steal his time to succeed. Upon further study, he has discovered that the right approach to managing his time and priorities is really to put the right things first. By putting God’s kingdom first and seeking His will, everything else falls naturally into place.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Stuart Briscoe was pastor of Elmbrook Church in Brookfield, Wisconsin, for thirty years. He and his wife, Jill, have been featured on the widely broadcast Telling the Truth TV and radio ministries. He has written more than forty books and preached in more than one hundred countries. He and his wife have now assumed the roles of Ministers-at-Large for the church. They have three children and thirteen grandchildren.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 96 pages
• Publisher: Multnomah Books (March 3, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1590524039
• ISBN-13: 978-1590524039
• Product Dimensions: 4.6 x 0.5 x 6.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #436,022 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #19 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Christian Living > Stewardship
  • #91 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Christian Living > Discipleship

More About the Author

Stuart Briscoe was born in Millom, Cumbria, England in 1930, graduated from high school at the age of 17, and promptly embarked on a career in banking. He studied law, economics, and accounting in his spare time and eventually became personal assistant to the chief inspector of the bank. Also at the age of 17, he started to preach. For 12 years, preaching and his banking career kept him fully occupied.

During the Korean War he was drafted into the Royal Marines. In 1959, he and his wife, Jill, a school teacher, left the business world to share in the ministry of the Torchbearers--a youth organization reaching out to the far corners of the world. Stuart's travels took him all over the world, while Jill looked after their three children: David, Judy, and Peter.

In 1970, Elmbrook Church in Brookfield, Wisconsin, U.S.A,. asked Stuart to become pastor. The church has since grown to a weekly attendance in excess of 7,000 and has planted 8 sister churches in the Milwaukee area. Elmbrook's TV and radio ministries, Telling the Truth, feature Stuart and Jill and are widely broadcast. Stuart's ministry is further extended by his extensive video and audio tapes and more then 40 books. After 30 years as senior pastor at Elmbrook Church, Stuart stepped down. He and Jill have assumed the roles of ministers-at-large on Elmbrook's church staff.

Various schools have honored him with honorary doctorates, and God has blessed Stuart and Jill with 13 grandchildren. He has preached in more than 100 countries and is invited to minister to pastors, missionaries, and church lay leaders on all continents.

In his spare time he likes to read, run, garden, and enjoy God's creation.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars True - but not practical, April 27, 2005

By 

John F. Kaess (Jacksonville, FL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Time Bandits: Putting First Things First (LifeChange Books) (Hardcover)

I bought this book hoping it would help me do a better job of removing those items from my life that steal my time.

Basically, the author says that the key is to put first God's kingdom, and that everything else will take care of itself. While Biblically this is defendable, it really is not a practical help in managing the demands on my life. I finished the book feeling like I had wasted time instead of being helped to make better use of my time.