Opening: Suppose you had a bank that credited your account each morning with $86,000 that carried over no balance from day to day. It allowed you to keep no cash in your account, and every evening canceled whatever part of the amount you failed to use during the day. What would you do with it? Of course, you will draw out every cent every day and use it to your advantage! Well, you have such a bank, and its name is TIME! Every morning it credits you with 86,400 seconds. Every night it ruled off as lost whatever you failed to invest to good purpose. It carries over no balances. It allows no overdrafts. Each day it opens a new account with you. The loss is yours if you fail to use the day's deposits. There is no going back. There is no drawing against tomorrow. Today we'll learn about how to spend Time our Time wisely.
Let's read Ephesians 5:16 - "redeeming the time, because the days are evil." (NKJV). The word "redeeming" in Greek is "exagorazo," which means to buy up, to ransom, to rescue from loss, or to redeem. It shows the act of buying. The term is proper to civil contracts but is here applied morally. There is some price paid; we part with one thing to obtain another. It is similar to Proverbs 23:23 says, "Buy the truth and sell it not."
What we redeem here, according to Paul, is 'time.' Time is very precious, and nothing is as valuable as Time. Not all the gold in the universe — nothing can purchase a single moment, and Time is short and uncertain!
The word 'time' here is different from the 'time' in Galatians 4:4, which we discussed last December 26. Here, the Greek word 'time' is not 'chronos' but 'kairos,' which means time, season, opportunity, or occasion. That is why NIV translates the verse as "making the most of every opportunity." These words remind us that we don't always have the time. We know that one day we will die. Last Sunday, James 4:14 reminded us, "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." Paul also reminds the Corinthians that Time is short: "But this I say, brethren, the time ('kairos') is short" (1 Corinthians 7:29).
So, "making the most of every opportunity" means while we're still alive, we must spend our Time doing something good or valuable to bless others. That is what Paul says in Galatians 6:10, "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers." Illustration: About an hour before my father passed away at the hospital, he got the opportunity to say this to my mother: "Thank you for taking care of me for 33 years. You are a wonderful wife." That meant so much for my mother because, like many Asian husbands, I had never seen my father kiss my mother or hug her nor heard him says "I love you" to my mother. Application: Have we done or said good things to our parents, spouses, siblings, children, grandchildren, in-laws, friends, and co-workers while we are still alive? But don't be like this husband! Illustration: At his death bed, a husband told his wife: "You are always with me until now." The wife was glad to hear that, and she answered, "Sure, I am your wife." The husband continued, "I remember, when I got an accident ten years ago, you were with me. When I lost my business, you were with me. And now, when I am sick, you are with me." The wife responded, "It's my pleasure to be with you always, my husband." The husband replied, "You misunderstand me! I wish you were not with me because you bring bad luck!"
"Making the most of every opportunity" or "redeeming the time" here is more than just how we can be more productive or efficient at work and make money. Or how we can achieve our dreams or ideals. But how we fill our lives by being and doing things pleasing to God.
It also means while we are young or still strong. There are things we can no longer do when we are old. I know brother Jim could no longer participate in a 10-mile marathon, right Jim? Because you often say you are "189" years old. But I praise the Lord. You still diligently serve the Lord. And when you serve the Lord, you look like you are still 50 years old. Application: Let's serve the Lord while we have the opportunity to do it. Jesus says in John 9:4 - "As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming when no one can work."
We must make the most of opportunity or redeem the Time because it cannot be recovered when it is once past. If we chance to lose a valued treasure, it may be found again though it is buried in the depths of the sea. It is not so with Time. Losing an opportunity is like a vessel/ship dashed in a thousand pieces that can never be repaired; it is as water spilled upon the ground which can never be gathered up again. Time past, indeed, cannot be recalled. Each moment, which flies off, is gone forever and will return no more. Like the wind, it passed away and came not again. We may have so many regrets. But we still have the opportunity to make a change now or redeem our Time.
That is why in verse 15, Paul encourages us, "Therefore, pay close attention to how you live, not as fools, but as wise men." Application: Let's now pay attention to how our life has been so far. Are we already living as Christians who are wise? Or maybe we are still living like fools who don't want to take advice. Before we knew the Lord Jesus, we lived in sin. We wasted our Time and lived on useless things. But now, we must change. The Time we have wasted all these years must be redeemed or bought. After becoming Christians, if we have not used our time wisely, we must make up for it. We must regain the Time which is lost. Sadly, some Christians spend their Time hating someone, so their Time is taken to remember the words or attitudes of those who have hurt them. As a result, their hearts often become anxious and upset, failing to show Christ's love and forgiveness. There are also Christians who seek worldly pleasures or entertainment, thus neglecting their responsibilities. Many Christians live like fools. They ignore their spiritual needs; They spend their time, not on things that bring spiritual growth or maturity to their faith.
These are examples of people who had redeemed their times wisely:
a. Alfred the Great. He was one of the best kings that ever filled the British throne. He divided his time into three portions, allotting eight hours to sleep, recreation, and meals. And then eight to public business, and eight to private study and devotion. And by constantly adhering to his plan, he accomplished the works and acquired the wisdom which has excited the admiration of posterity. Alfred had a reputation as a learned and merciful man of a gracious and level-headed nature who encouraged education, proposing that primary education be conducted in Old English rather than Latin and improving the legal system and military structure and his people's quality of life. He was given the epithet "the Great" in the 16th century.
b. Dr. Philip Doddridge. He adopted nearly the same plan, and by that means, he was able to educate so many young men, preach so frequently, and leave the world those various writings that have enlightened the minds and aided the devotion of multitudes.
c. Colonel James Gardiner. He always set apart two hours in the morning for prayer. And if his troops had to march at six o'clock, he rose at four to commune with God, and like his Divine Master, prepare for arduous duties by fervent prayer.
Next week we will continue with the reason why we must redeem our time. Remember,
(1) We have lost much Time already (1 Peter 4:3 – "For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and detestable idolatry.").
(2) We do not know how much Time yet remains to us (James 4:14 – "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.").
(3) We have to give an account of all our Time and opportunities (2 Cor 5:10 – "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.").
Closing: I want to close this message by sharing with you about Susanna Wesley. Susanna and Samuel Wesley had 19 children, and nine of her children died as infants. As a pastor's wife and a mother of many children, she was very busy every day. She also experienced many hardships throughout her life. Samuel Wesley spent Time in jail twice due to his poor financial abilities, and the lack of money was a continual struggle for Susanna. And yet, in that situation, she spent her Time so wisely. A letter she wrote to her husband when he was in jail for a year showed how wisely she spent her Time for God, her family, and her church:
"I am a woman, but I am also the mistress of a large family. And though the superior charge of the souls contained in it lies upon you, yet in your long absence I cannot but look upon every soul you leave under my charge as a talent committed to me under a trust. I am not a man nor a minister, yet as a mother and a mistress I felt I ought to do more than I had yet done. I resolved to begin with my own children; in which I observe the following method: I take such a proportion of Time as I can spare every night to discourse with each child apart. On Monday I talk with Molly, on Tuesday with Hetty, Wednesday with Nancy, Thursday with Jacky, Friday with Patty, Saturday with Charles." She spent hours every day praying for her children one by one.
Praise God because a godly and wise mother, the world had John and Charles Wesley, who God amazingly used for His Kingdom. May God help us to redeem our Time and live wisely.
