Redeem the Time
“Time is money.”
This famous quote was attributed to Benjamin Franklin, who in 1748 made the quip while advising a young tradesman. Franklin added, “He that idly loses five shillings’ worth of time loses five shillings, and might as prudently throw five shillings into the sea.” [Source: https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Franklin/01-03-02-0130]
Undoubtedly time is a valuable resource, because our time in this world is finite. In fact, some people believe it’s better to do things as quickly as possible.
We have time saving devices like the microwave oven, time-saving strategies like the Dale Carnegie Course on time management, and our computers and i-phones as well. You might say they’re getting faster by the second! We have factories that crank out products twenty-four hours a day and cities in perpetual motion, like New York, “the city that never sleeps!”
I wonder what Benjamin Franklin would think if he were around today to witness our pace of life.
Time is certainly a fascinating component of life, and as it pertains to the spiritual realm in general, and to our witness specifically, it is a resource to be stewarded.
As the Apostle Paul addressed the church in Ephesus, part of his exhortation to them was to utilize their time in a God-honoring fashion.
In Ephesians 5 he encouraged them to “walk in love” (verse 5) and “walk as children of light” (verse 8). The idea of walking is a concept that includes initiative and action. In contrast, Paul also exhorted them to “avoid immorality or any impurity” (verse 3) and told them to “not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness” (verse 11).
In Ephesians 5:15-16, he wrote these powerful words under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit:
“See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”
These compelling words jar me, and confront me to examine my utilization of this precious resource entrusted to me by my Savior.
As redeeming the time pertains to my witness, perhaps a healthy place to begin is simply in the presence of God. Spend time with the Lord and allow Him to examine my heart and my motives, to the end that He would change me and conform me more into the image of Christ.
The psalmist cried out: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23-24).
To be led in the way everlasting was and is to be led by the Lord in the way of righteousness, the way leading to eternal life. To be led requires us to follow the Lord.
In our individual witness, what does it look like to “redeem the time?” It means we seek the Lord and follow where He leads, “walking in love” and “walking as children of light.” Specifically, it means we show God’s love through good works and share God’s love through good words, namely proclamation of the truth that sets men free, the gospel of Jesus Christ!
Additionally, redeeming the time includes the essential of prayer, for it’s imperative that we go to God on behalf of people before we go to people on behalf of God.
In short, redeeming the time in our witness takes intentionality of the heart and the follow- through of action.
To put the imperative of our witness into an eternal context, evangelism is one thing we can’t do in heaven! In heaven we’re going to worship the Lord, we’re going to fellowship with the saints, and we’re going to do things. Yet, amid the magnificent perfection and majesty of life in heaven, we will no longer have an opportunity to share the riches of Christ and His glorious gospel with those who don’t know Him!
As we share the light with those walking in darkness, may we pray they would awaken spiritually into new life in Christ. As the Apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians 5:13-14:
“But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. Therefore He says: ‘Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.’”
Paul was extending an invitation to for salvation to unsaved people, that they would be transformed from children of darkness into children of God’s light.
He then followed with a plea to the believers in Ephesus to redeem the time:
“See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:15-16).
As busy as our lives may be, may we be intentional in utilizing some of the time bestowed upon us engaging in the Father’s business as it pertains to people and His redemptive plan of salvation in Christ, allowing Him to lead us in the everlasting way!
People need the Lord.