A reminder that can never be repeated too often is that life is short and the days of man are few. Each breath is fleeting and even is we are able to enjoy the luxury of seventy or eighty years (Psalm 90:10), that time is far less than it seems. Knowing, though, that life is as a vapor (James 4:14), it seems amazing the time that we will spend on some matters and restrict from others. Would the most important things not be obvious as we survey the span of our lives? Seeing as they would, why is it the case that so much is wasted on what amounts to be so little? Paul would encourage the Christians of Ephesus to “see then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:15-16). What Paul is discussing in these two verses is the difference between wise and unwise living and encourages those recipients to walk with diligence. In verse sixteen, though, Paul uses a phrase that perhaps establishes his desire in the best way possible. He encourages us all to “redeem the time.” Gary Colley marvelously explains the wisdom of this concept:
“’Redeeming the time’ points us to the way we are to use our swiftly-passing moments of life, especially in teaching the lost. We are to ‘buy up the opportunities’ as a wise purchaser who realizes the value of certain merchandise and purchases it at the first opportunity, lest the opportunity be lost. We are to use our time to the best advantage each hour and each day in serving our Lord (Romans 6:16-18). We are to use our mental and physical faculties in such a way that honor and glory will be gained from our lives for God’s glory (Matthew 5:16). We must strive to be the greatest possible blessing to our fellow man in teaching and living before him the Gospel of salvation (Romans 1:14-17). Tomorrow may be too late to begin living the wise life!”
Every day 86,400 seconds have been deposited into our lives? Are we being wise stewards with those blessings so as to provide our Master with the greatest return possible (see the parable of the talents—Luke 19:12-27)? With this profound reality facing us every day, what are some Divine suggestions as to how we can properly redeem our time as earnest servants of Jesus Christ?
We should spend time talking to God. Prayer is an invaluable blessing that often is ignored to such a point that some even forget how to pray. Many and varied, though, are the instances in scripture that allude to the need to make prayer a practice to which we are given multiple times daily. The Psalmist would say that “evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice” (Psalm 55:17). It seems safe to say that every day he was determined to spend time talking to God, knowing the good that it would ultimately accomplish in his life (James 5:16). If we are truly desirous to redeem the time we have, we will spend time with this admirable practice as well.
We should spend time allowing God to talk to us. “By what means is this accomplished?” you ask. By reading, studying, and meditating upon the inspired words He has provided through scripture. No, God is not going to speak directly to us through some small still voice as many claim, but His ability to communicate with man is not hampered in the least. The Bible contains any and all information that we could ever need from God in this life (2 Peter 1:3) and if we will commit our lives to searching it out, we will find the blessings too numerous to name. The New Testament bears out the fact that those who are diligent in their studies are noble, upright, complete, and growing (Acts 17:11; 2 Timothy 2:15; 2 Peter 3:18). Truly our pursuit of Divine knowledge will never be in vain as we spend time each day allowing God to talk to us.
We should spend time talking to someone about God. The responsibility to evangelize the lost of the world is an expectation that is lost in the minds of many Christians. Some know it but ignore it. Others never fully recognize the need. A number simply do not know where to begin. Our accountability to the Great Commission, though, is as great today as it ever has been. Each day, in some way big or small, we should make strides in trying to get the saving gospel to someone who needs it. By committing ourselves to that effort, we will be aiding the church at large as together we “go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). Yes, everyday we should try to spend time talking to someone about God.
Are we redeeming the time or wasting our time? Surely our hope is to be as productive in service to God as we possibly can that He might be glorified, His kingdom might be built up, and the number of saved souls increases at a phenomenal rate. Redeem the time, because the days are evil (Ephesians 5:16).