Redeeming the Time
Welcome back this week. It is truly a humble pleasure to be able to write for all of you and give you some thoughts from God’s Word. And I want to thank you for taking the time out of your week to wisely spend it here today.
The following is taken from a Wednesday night devotional a few weeks ago on February 25th. A few items have been readded that were removed from the devotional due to time constraints, so even if you heard it then, you may still get something new out of it.
Yes, it’s that time again - Spring is near and Baseball season is back. Mike A. did a great job last week presenting a baseball story about Bob Brenly and his ups and downs. How baseball is a game of second chances and redemption. I’m not going to tell another baseball story today, however, just like the big leaguers are going through focusing on their fundamentals now in spring training, I want us to focus on some fundamentals today. Players and coaches all know the importance of sound fundamentals to reach their goal of winning the World Series. We all need to be fundamentally sound as well. I may not say anything you don’t already know, but I pray that these few minutes will be profitable to each one of you in some way.
Today, I’d like you to reflect on the gift of Time. In the KJV, Ephesians 5:15 reads “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,” and then verse 16 “Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” With the little time we have today, I’d like to hit a few high points in this last verse. Listen closely again to verse 16. The KJV translates the Greek literally here, as “Redeeming the time”. The NIV translates the same phrase as “Making the most of every opportunity”. The Greek word exagorazomenoi translated redeeming in the KJV is a compound word that combines ek(ex) “out of” with agora. The Agora was a public place where people gathered. At times, they even held trials there where it was possible that you could be plucked as a juror if you were nearby. Later, at the time of Paul’s writing, the Agora was known as the market place - a place to buy and sell, including slaves. Its connection to the buying of slaves is how this word can be translated “redeeming”. Therefore, the word in the New Testament basically means “out of the marketplace” or “to purchase out of the marketplace”. Paul is the only New Testament writer to use this word in connection with time. He uses it here in Ephesians 5:16 and also in Colossians 4:5. The Colossians verse reads, “Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.” You can see it is used in the same way and basically means making the most of every opportunity. (Note for you Septuagint gurus - this word is also combined with time and used in Daniel 2:8 where the magicians and astrologers are trying to buy, or gain, time from the King in order to interpret his dream and avoid his threat of death if they failed.)
Our time is precious. It is extremely precious. It is probably obvious, but here are four major reasons why our time is precious.
Counting down backwards:
4. Once time is past, it can not be recovered.
3. We are uncertain of its continuance.
2. Our time is very short - it is scarce - there never seems to be enough of it. And, most importantly,
1. Our eternity depends on how we use it.
So, paraphrased in verse 16, Paul basically says ‘Buy up that time out of the marketplace and make it yours.’ It sounds a lot like Jesus’ words in Matthew 6:19-20 of laying up treasures for heaven - because our eternity depends upon it.
Note that Paul does not use any of these 4 specific reasons in verse 16, but he says we should redeem the time - Why?, “Because the days are evil.” Obviously, the days aren’t evil. It is referring to what happens during those days if we don’t redeem the time. The word here is the same Greek word used in the Lord’s prayer when Jesus asks God to protect us from the evil one. So don’t take this phrase lightly. Paul is basically saying that if you don’t make wise choices, then the evil one will have won. We don’t have time to delve into this aspect, but I believe it ties in with what Jeff has been talking about on Sundays in First John and the worldly system run by Satan that opposes Christ. I’ll let you consider that on your own.
“Redeeming the time” - this theme is so prevalent in the Bible.
Remember the rich man in Luke 12 who built up huge barns to store his wealth. God said to him “You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ “This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God.”
Or remember the Prodigal son (in Luke 15) he was the epitome of one who wasted his time.
As you read the Bible to get your Grapes this year, you are sure to see how often this theme is presented in Jesus’ parables and stories. In the stories of The Rich Man & Lazarus, the wise & foolish builders where one built on the rock and the other the sand, the parables of the talents and the 10 virgins, just to name a few more.
Paul also uses this word for Redeeming two other times, in Galations 3:13 and 4:4. These two verses are in reference to Jesus and his redeeming us from the curse of the law. Galations 4:4 reads, ”But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.” This Greek word often referred to the purchase of a slave out of the market place. I think here in Galations, Paul is trying to emphasize that we are no longer slaves and have been purchased with the blood of Christ.
Finally, as we finish up, here are three quick areas to focus on to help you with improving your time. I’m using the acronym son, S-O-N, to help you remember these three things.
S - Spiritual time: Ephesians 5:18-21 follows with Paul describing how we should be filled with spiritual things such as singing, praying and submitting to God. It should come as no surprise, as we know Jesus spent much of his time in solitude and in prayer to his Father.
O - Opportunities: Look for opportunities, make the most of your time. Ephesians 5:17 says to Understand what the Lord’s will is. Study, pray, meet with the saints. These will help you to make wise choices of your time. S - Spiritual time; O - Opportunities and
N - N stands for Now. There is no time like the present.
If any of you have delayed or are just hesitant to make a commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ, my dear brother or sister, Now is the time to act. If you have a need to ask God for forgiveness or to make better use of your time, or if you believe, and want to repent, confess and be buried in baptism, to be redeemed by Jesus’ precious blood and be God’s child forever - for all eternity, then please do not wait another moment. Buy up the time - today!
Song #544 - “Redeemed”
Redeemed how I love to pro-claim it! Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb;
Redeemed thro’ His in-fi-nite mer-cy, His child, and for-ev-er, I am.
Re-deemed, re-deemed, Re-deemed by the blood of the Lamb;
Re-deemed, re-deemed, His child, and for-ev-er, I am.
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