Ephesians 5 describes a manner of life, a way of life, how a Christian is to order his behavior. GOD would have each of us to walk in love (v. 2), walk as children of light (v. 8), and to walk circumspectly (v. 15). As we walk, we are to be about the business of redeeming time (v. 16). To redeem time is to make the “most of every opportunity, turning each to the best advantage since none can be recalled if missed” (Vine’s). Time is sometimes defined as “a season,” and is used to refer to “a time in which something is seasonable” (Vine’s). Life can be viewed in seasonal terms: spring, summer, fall and winter. Whatever season of your life you find yourself in make the most of it by walking in love as a child of light, looking carefully about yourself (Ephesians 5:2, 8, 15-16). Redeeming time is important for two reasons.
Life is short. Job understood this truth. He spoke of his life as a “breath” (Job 7:7, 16). “Now my days are swifter than a runner; they flee away,” said the suffering servant (Job 9:25; NKJV). Life is like “a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away” (James 4:14; NKJV). It is within the context of a discussion of the brevity of life that we find the words “to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin” (James 4:17; NKJV). To redeem time is to go “about doing good” (Acts 10:38; NKJV).
The days are evil. Because of sin “the whole world lies in the power of the evil one” (1 John 5:19; ESV). Daily, the Devil is seeking to devour us (1Peter 5:7). We must be about the business of “making the best use of the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:16; ESV).
Our prayer: “O LORD, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am! Behold, you have made my days a few handbreaths, and my lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath!” (Psalm 39:4-5; ESV)
Jason Cicero
