Articles
Redeem The Time
"See that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” (Eph. 5:15-16, NKJV).
Do we waste time? Usually we associate waste of time with the one who procrastinates or doesn’t complete their responsibilities. But another, maybe even more insidious form, is spending our time and energy in wrong pursuits. We can waste time by striving after selfish goals with the aim of getting ahead. We can waste time by worrying too much about what others think of us. Or maybe wasting time worrying about past conversations because we might’ve said the wrong thing. Lastly, we can waste time projecting our fears into the future. We do ourselves a disservice when we measure our lives by how full our schedules are instead of how rich our relationships are.
“Redeem the time” means that every moment counts. It is a precious commodity. Moses said to number our days (Psa, 90:12). In a given day, everyone has the same amount of time: 24 hours, 1440 minutes, or 86,400 seconds. This is just about the only thing that we share equally. We don’t all have the same amount of money, talent, health, opportunities, love, or needs—but we all have the same amount of time. We are all given the same chance of spending our time wisely.
We often do the same monotonous things every day without a moment’s thought. We need to remember that we’re in a lifelong spiritual battle. Time is one of the greatest resources in this fight. It allows us to connect with our Creator, and to know and carry out His will.
Our purpose is not to be busy. We redeem the time, by seeing every moment as a precious gift from God. We can use our time to honor Him, to work in His kingdom and live purposeful lives. We can have an impact on those He loved and those we love. Taking the time to build relationships is so valuable. And taking the time to build a relationship with God through prayer is even more valuable. Our spiritual pursuits include our relationships and each relationship grows by having God at the center of our lives.
George MacDonald said, “I find doing the will of God leaves me no time for disputing about His plans.”
Rickie Jenkins
