Near the end of each year, or the beginning of a new year, it is not uncommon for newspapers, magazines, or television news programs to focus on highlights, events, and people who made news during the previous twelve months. Such reports may also include predictions about what will happen in the future. As you would expect, some of the predictions are way off track. Here is an example from one, some years ago. It was predicted that, by this time, technology would have taken over so much of the work that the average American would spend only twenty -two hours a week at his job. And, he would only work twenty – seven weeks a year. It was suggested that our biggest concern would be deciding what to do during all our leisure time. Think they nailed that one?
It might be more helpful if we focused on Paul ’s inspired words in Ephesians 5:15 -16 . It reads, “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. ” Since we want to be wise and not fools, we should redeem whatever time we have. How do we do that?
First, we recognize that our time on earth is limited. It is not morbid to remember that we are mortal. The psalmist prayed, “Lord, make me to know my end, And what is the measure of my days, that I may know how frail I am. ” (Ps. 39:4). The truth is, we do not have a guarantee of even one more day to live (James 4:13-14). The Lord was correct when He said “. . . the night is coming when no one can work. ” (John 9:4).
Second, make the most of our opportunities. We must “buy up” or “redeem” the time. Just think of the time people waste in sinful living. But, it isn ’t just sin that uses up our limited time. It is always a challenge not to let good things crowd out better things. Martha had to learn that lesson (Luke 10:40 – 42). One doctor wrote that the major malady of our day is “overload. ”
We know this about time: we can ’t redo the past. But, we can redeem the time we have left to live. You can repent of the failure to use time properly and you can resolve to do your best with whatever time God has left for you.
-Allen Hahn
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