To redeem something means to buy it back, to regain possession of it, says the dictionary and my typical thinking about that word. So I was questioning the wording of the Ephesians 5:15-17 passage as I learned it in the King James Version:
See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
We can’t “redeem” time in the sense of getting it back – and it seems we can only regain possession of it in the present or future. This was confusing.
So I went back to a more thorough definition of “redeem”. It also means to do something that compensates for poor past performance or behavior or to atone or make amends for error or evil. That made this passage a little more clear.
I then checked another version, newer and respected by many pastors, the ESV version –
Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
My own Bible is NIV so I checked their wording PLUS the study notes (yes, I need lots of help) –
Be very careful, then, how you live –not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.
Study note: the foolish person has no strategy for life and misses opportunities to live for God in an evil environment.
OK, got it – and I don’t want to be foolish, but now I see that I don’t want to miss opportunities to live for God – and yes, I agree the “days are evil” in that they snatch away my time!! Darn it!
Time is a gift from God, and none of us know how much of it we are allotted. That is really hard for me to handle. You see, I have tons of projects – open and unfinished. Ones I feel I MUST get finished!
Only God knows how much time each of us has on this earth to make decisions that will impact eternity. Does that include my unfinished projects? I take that from Psalm 139:16 which says “Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”
When God says we should be “redeeming the time,” it appears to mean that He wants us to live in constant awareness of that ticking clock and make the most of the time we have. In fact, the NIV’s translation using the phrase making the most of every opportunity emphasizes that.
Rather than waste my days on frivolous pursuits that leave no lasting imprint, Scripture instructs me to be diligent about doing good (see Titus 3:8).
Uh-oh – I am afraid of that standard being applied to my use of time. It seems at the end of every day, the list has grown longer and I can’t recite much that I truly accomplished – and did my “to-do” list match God’s definition of “doing good”? I rather doubt it – maybe just a few things.
If I were to seize every opportunity and use it for God’s glory, I imagine I would need to think through my plans (“to-do” list?) and make sure they align with God’s will.
This is bringing to mind my recent blog on “overcommitment” – Overcommitted? – Candy McCune –and I think I remember committing to running all of my “commitments” by the Lord to see what is matching His list, and what is NOT – guess that includes my “to-do” list, also.
Jesus taught His disciples the necessity of redeeming the time: “We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work” (John 9:4). Jesus was diligent about keeping to His mission. I really would like to know how to do that, too.
Distractions were as prevalent then as they are now, but He let none of them deter Him from preaching and teaching God’s Word. That was why He had come to earth (Luke 4:43). Though He spent only 33 years on this earth, Jesus changed the world forever because He redeemed the time.
What brings this all to mind for me? A neighbor’s news of having a small stroke (he is younger than I am) / a dear friend’s diagnosis of cancer, stage 4, and she has lived longer than the doctor predicted (and she is younger than I am) / remembering receiving the news of my dad’s death, suddenly, at age 72 (younger than I) and losing him hit me like a ton of bricks.
James 4:14 reminds us that our earthly lives are no more than a fog that appears and then quickly evaporates. Our money and possessions will be given to someone else. Our jobs will be filled by others. Our families may remember us with fondness but will move on with lives that don’t include us.
THAT could be depressing. But instead – I am choosing to see it as a good “re-alignment” time for me.
All that remains of our lives on earth is that which was invested in eternity. In the end, all that matters is what we did or did not do to redeem the time (Psalm 102:3; 144:4).
For my days vanish like smoke;
my bones burn like glowing embers.
They are like a breath;
their days are like a fleeting shadow.
NOPE – not wanting to lead you to a panic – or a place of despair! Instead, I hope that you, like me, are looking at what you ARE leaving behind that is in alignment with the Lord’s will.
My re-launching of the Life-Story online course and the focus and work on tweaks and revisions to that have truly made me focus – intensely.
How a Life-Story, preserved and passed on to generations beyond, is an opportunity to glorify the Lord has become so clear to me. My students have humbled and inspired me as I see the amazing ways they have shared their faith stories, the Lord in their lives, showing up and leading them, and just the values and life lessons He has provided them.
May you be inspired as well. It’s about time – and you and I need to “redeem” it in alignment with God’s purposes. I will keep reminding you if you will do the same for me!
