{"id":90742,"date":"2021-03-12T05:31:00","date_gmt":"2021-03-12T10:31:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/keriritenour.com\/grace\/redeem-the-time\/"},"modified":"2023-10-07T22:58:45","modified_gmt":"2023-10-08T02:58:45","slug":"redeem-the-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/keriritenour.com\/grace\/redeem-the-time\/","title":{"rendered":"Redeem the Time"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Ephesians 5:15-17:\nSee then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools,\nbut as wise, <strong><sup>16<\/sup><\/strong>Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.\n<strong><sup>17<\/sup><\/strong>Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will\nof the Lord is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Paul charges his audience to be careful how they live.\u00a0 Comparing \u201cliving\u201d to \u201cwalking\u201d, he admonishes us to not move carelessly through the day taking things as they come.\u00a0 Instead, move cautiously, looking at each opportunity, invitation and encounter.\u00a0 Just how are we to do this?\u00a0 What is time all about?\u00a0 Is it really that important?\u00a0 How do I prioritize?\u00a0 For the Biblical answer, we turn to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-medium-font-size\">\n<li>Historical\nContext: Written between 60-63 A.D., Ephesians 1:1 identifies the author\nof the book of Ephesians as the apostle Paul.&nbsp;\nPaul intended that all who long for Christ-like maturity would receive\nthis writing. Enclosed within the book of Ephesians is the discipline needed to\ndevelop into true children of God. Furthermore, a study in Ephesians will help\nto fortify and to establish the believer so he can fulfill the purpose and\ncalling God has given. The aim of this epistle is to confirm and to equip a\nmaturing church. It presents a balanced view of the body of Christ and its\nimportance in God&#8217;s economy.&nbsp; Paul\u2019s\nwriting breaks down into three main segments. (1) Chapters one through three\nintroduce principles with respect to God&#8217;s accomplishment. (2) Chapters four\nand five put forth principles regarding our present existence. (3) Chapter six\npresents principles concerning our daily struggle. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-medium-font-size\">\n<li>Grammatical\nUsage:&nbsp; \u201cCircumspectly\u201d in the\nGreek is \u201cakribos\u201d and literally means, \u201caccurately\u2026expressing accuracy which\nis the result of care.\u201d&nbsp; \u201cRedeem\u201d is\n\u201cexagorazo\u201d in the Middle Voice (this voice means that\nthe <a>SUBJECT <\/a>initiates\nthe action and participates in\nthe results of the action. The middle voice indicates the subject performs an\naction upon himself or herself (reflexive action) for their own benefit. E.g.,\n\u201cThe boy groomed him<strong>s<\/strong>elf\u201d).&nbsp; Therefore \u201credeem\u201d literally means \u201cYOU\nbuy up the opportunity to your own benefit\u201d; when combined with \u201ctime\u201d or\n\u201ckairos\u201d in the Greek which signifies \u201ca season, a moment,\u201d together they convey\nthe command to make the most of every opportunity, turning each to the best\nadvantage\u2026the best outcome since the season (or opportunity) can not be\nrecalled.&nbsp; \u201cUnwise\u201d or \u201caphrones\u201d refers\nto being senseless or foolish while \u201cunderstanding\u201d or \u201csyniete\u201d means \u201cto\ncomprehend intellectually\u201d (understand that God has provided the opportunity as\npart of His plan).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-medium-font-size\">\n<li>Literal\nApplication: \u201cBe very careful, then, how you\nlive\u2014not without understanding but with understanding (in relation to the\nimportance of your time), <strong><sup>16<\/sup><\/strong>making the most of every\nopportunity, because the days are evil. <strong><sup>17<\/sup><\/strong>Therefore do not lack\npurpose, but understand what the Lord&#8217;s will is in every opportunity.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-medium-font-size\">\n<li>Contextual Interpretation: This incisive expression&#8211;&#8220;redeeming the time&#8221;&#8211;occurs also in Colossians 4:5: &#8220;Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.&#8221; The Greek word for &#8220;redeem&#8221; means to &#8220;buy back,&#8221; to &#8220;ransom,&#8221; or even to &#8220;rescue.&#8221; That is, time is a very valuable asset, in danger of being lost forever unless it is rescued, or redeemed.\u00a0 As a matter of fact, time is just about the most valuable asset we have. If we squander our money or lose our health, there is always the possibility of earning more money or being restored to health, but wasted time is gone forever. In our text, those who are wise redeem the time, whereas those who are fools waste or misuse it. The word in the original for &#8220;circumspectly&#8221; is translated &#8220;diligently&#8221; in Matthew 2:7. The text thus indicates that those who redeem the time are walking diligently; the parallel passage in Colossians 4:5 says they are walking in wisdom. The time God gives us, therefore, should be used both carefully (as defined by 5:1) and diligently keeping in mind that the world is a hostile place for those who seek to do what is right, who seek to follow God.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">The marvelous passage in the 139th Psalm which describes the growth of the human embryo concludes with a remarkable declaration: &#8220;In thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them&#8221; (Psalm 139:16). The words &#8220;my members&#8221; are not in the original, and &#8220;in continuance&#8221; is actually the Hebrew word for &#8220;days.&#8221; Thus, the verse is really telling us that all of our <strong>days<\/strong> were written in God\u2019s book even before we were conceived. Each day of our lives is vitally important in the plan of God.\u00a0&#8220;So,&#8221; as Moses prayed to the Lord, &#8220;teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom&#8221; (Psalm 90:12). <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Scriptural\nComparison: To make the most of our time, we need to understand:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"has-medium-font-size\">\n<li>God created time.\u00a0Genesis 1:5 indicates that time began at creation, with evening and morning being the first day.We still live within this framework;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>God\nrules over time.\u00a0 When the Lord Jesus\nstated, \u201cBefore Abraham was born, I am\u201d (Jn. 8:58) he was telling the scribes\nand Pharisees that He was eternal \u2013 a claim they did not take lightly for in\nsaying so, He was proclaiming His deity;\n<ul>\n<li>God\ncaused time to stand still during a crucial OT battle (Josh. 10:13-14)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>God\nused a span of time to let His servant Noah know how long he had before the\nrains started (Gen. 7:4);<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>God\nuses time in the lives of His children for preparation, instruction, rest and\nduty;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>God\u2019s timing is always perfect.\u00a0 Jesus was not premature.\u00a0He was not late.\u00a0He came at the exact moment in time that His father had planned (Gal. 4:4);<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Likewise, God has brought us to birth at an appointed time.\u00a0He knows the exact time we will die.\u00a0 He has will for time on earth.\u00a0 It is a sin to waste this time.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>God\nhas also appointed a time for judgment (Acts 17:31);<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>God has given us the responsibility of time management.\u00a0The way we use our time reveals our values and priorities. Good time management (1 Cor. 3:14) as well as poor time management (1 Cor. 3:15) will be judged.\u00a0 No where in Scripture is it stated or implied to \u201cjust do what comes naturally\u201d in a purposeless sense.\u00a0In fact, the opposite is true.\u00a0Not only does Paul instruct us to make the most of our time, Peter tells us to employ our spiritual gifts (1 Pt. 4;10) \u2013 implication being that we are to use our time to serve others by getting eyes off of ourselves.\n<ol>\n<li>Caution #1: Balance is essential.\u00a0Ecclesiastes 3 indicates that we are to be balanced with our time.\u00a0There are those who are workaholics and others slothful \u2013 neither extreme is biblical.\u00a0 The Ten Commandments emphasizes balance in time (Ex. 20:9-10);<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Caution #2: Rest is important.\u00a0The One who told us how long to work also told us to rest.\u00a0 When we abuse His plan, we pay for it physically and emotionally.\u00a0Rest is a wonderful investment of time, as is work.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Caution #3: Don\u2019t overlook the timesaving power of prayer.\u00a0Prayer is like a compass.\u00a0It gives direction.\u00a0 God already knows every second of your day.\u00a0He already knows every interruption.\u00a0He already knows every crisis.\u00a0Through prayer, He gives us direction through our own personal minefields.\u00a0None of it is hidden from Him.\u00a0In Mark 1:35-37, before sunrise, Christ spent time in prayer.\u00a0Peter and his friends \u201csearched for Him.\u00a0When they found Him, they said to him, \u2018Everyone is looking for You.\u2019\u201d\u00a0In Mt. 14:23, Jesus spent the evening in prayer.\u00a0 In Luke 5:15-16, Jesus spent time in the wilderness in prayer.\u00a0He only had three short years to teach, preach, heal and lead &#8211; yet a priority of time was dedicated to prayer.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-medium-font-size\">\n<li>Conclusion: From God\u2019s standpoint, time equals opportunity.\u00a0To waste time is to miss opportunities.\u00a0Walking wisely involves using our time carefully \u2013 not thoughtlessly or selfishly spending it, but investing it.\u00a0As we surrender the use of our time to the lordship of Christ, He will lead us to use it in the most productive way imaginable.\u00a0Since we are to walk wisely and make the most of our time, we need to know what we are aiming at.\u00a0Are we filling up time or investing it?\u00a0 Do we have anything to show for out time other than a paycheck?\u00a0Three challenges:<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"has-medium-font-size\">\n<li>Account\nfor every hour within a seven day period to provide insight as to how your time\nis managed and spent;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Figure up how many days you\u2019ve lived (practical application of Ps. 90:12).\u00a0 Subtract that number from 25, 500 days (an average 70-year span). What do you plan to do with the days you have remaining?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>With this information, how does your life\u2019s schedule accommodate your spiritual gift?\u00a0Accommodate those commands to believers in the New Testament (see supplement)?\u00a0What needs to change in your life in order to redeem your time thereby advancing the Kingdom?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ephesians 5:15-17: See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. Paul charges his audience to be careful how they live.\u00a0 Comparing \u201cliving\u201d to \u201cwalking\u201d, he admonishes us to not [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[526,534],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Redeem the Time - Grace Evangelical Free Church<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Redeem the Time - Grace Evangelical Free Church\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Ephesians 5:15-17: See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. 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