Ephesians 5:16 - Redeeming
the time, because the days are evil.
Have you noticed how driven we are by time?
Our alarms go off at a certain time in the morning. We get dressed and ready so
we can make it to work on time. We spend the day keeping appointments which are
set for particular times. Most of our life revolves around a time schedule.
We plan our exercise program so we can be fit after we invest some time at it. We save our money so it can build over time. We raise our children knowing that the time will come when they are on their own. Time, time, time; it is the one thing that all of humanity shares. We all have twenty four hours in a day. All people, young and old, rich and poor, regardless of their culture, status, or beliefs have this one thing in common; we only have so much time. Someone once said that time is really the only resource we have and we exchange that time for everything else. The word itself is commonly used in an economic fashion; we spend time.
We plan our exercise program so we can be fit after we invest some time at it. We save our money so it can build over time. We raise our children knowing that the time will come when they are on their own. Time, time, time; it is the one thing that all of humanity shares. We all have twenty four hours in a day. All people, young and old, rich and poor, regardless of their culture, status, or beliefs have this one thing in common; we only have so much time. Someone once said that time is really the only resource we have and we exchange that time for everything else. The word itself is commonly used in an economic fashion; we spend time.
Paul says that we are to redeem the time.
Redeem is an interesting and picturesque word because it means to buy up, or
rescue from loss. Like a merchant who eagerly buys up a scarce commodity, we
are to buy up the opportunities presented to us.
There are also two ways to look at the concept of time. There is chronological time, the kind that marches on and waits for no man, and there are strategic seasons and points of opportunity which quite often come unexpectedly. The Greeks called these opportunities ‘kairos’ moments and this is the word that Paul uses in this verse. Most of these moments arise unpredictably and they are usually are brief and fleeting. They come and they go like the water that passes under the bridge, it really never comes around again. These times may include such things as the birth of a child, a morning sunrise, a tender kiss, or kind words from a stranger. However, kairos moments also come at times of crisis. I remember a friend of mine telling me that in a certain oriental language their one word for crisis meant both danger and opportunity. When the crisis of life comes, it is a time of danger but it is also an opportunity for positive and powerful change. We are exhorted by Paul to redeem the opportunity, to not let it pass us by but to make the most of it. There are times in our life when the Lord is speaking to us and we are fully aware that it is him speaking. That is the time, that is the kairos moment which is the opportunity that is presenting itself. Stop and purchase that opportunity, stop and smell the roses, so to speak. Isaiah said to ‘seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near’. In other words, redeem the time, buy the opportunity.
There are also two ways to look at the concept of time. There is chronological time, the kind that marches on and waits for no man, and there are strategic seasons and points of opportunity which quite often come unexpectedly. The Greeks called these opportunities ‘kairos’ moments and this is the word that Paul uses in this verse. Most of these moments arise unpredictably and they are usually are brief and fleeting. They come and they go like the water that passes under the bridge, it really never comes around again. These times may include such things as the birth of a child, a morning sunrise, a tender kiss, or kind words from a stranger. However, kairos moments also come at times of crisis. I remember a friend of mine telling me that in a certain oriental language their one word for crisis meant both danger and opportunity. When the crisis of life comes, it is a time of danger but it is also an opportunity for positive and powerful change. We are exhorted by Paul to redeem the opportunity, to not let it pass us by but to make the most of it. There are times in our life when the Lord is speaking to us and we are fully aware that it is him speaking. That is the time, that is the kairos moment which is the opportunity that is presenting itself. Stop and purchase that opportunity, stop and smell the roses, so to speak. Isaiah said to ‘seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near’. In other words, redeem the time, buy the opportunity.
When Paul uses the phrase ‘because the days
are evil’, I believe that he means that because of the fall of man, life does
not automatically promote good things, therefore the time needs to be redeemed.
Just as your garden will not automatically produce good and healthy vegetables
without your active cooperation, so our lives need our awareness to make the
most of every opportunity.
Thank God that we can, by his grace, redeem the time!
Thank God that we can, by his grace, redeem the time!
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