Redeeming The Time...

"Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days"  (Eph. 5:16, NLT). 

Paul admonishes believers to "redeem the time because the days are evil" (cf. Eph. 5:16)!  We must get our plans in line with God's timing and will, for He makes everything beautiful in His time (cf. Eccl. 3:11).  We are only granted only so much of this precious element, which is merely a corollary of space and matter, and no one has more of it than any other until our time is up and we are called home.  We all have 168 hours in a week and the opportunity to get eight hours of sleep, if we are good at managing the time allotted us.

Time management is a managerial skill and it gets better with age and experience.  Jesus had a perfect timetable (never in a hurry nor late), and was always in God's timeline, will, and plan.  Note that Jesus never felt nor complained of being interrupted, for He recognized the providence of God in bringing about the glory of God and meaning to time.  We ought to respect each other's personal time, unless they are working for us, then we have the rights to make demands.

Since we are responsible only for the time given us (some have more downtime or free time than others, for instance), there are only a few things we can do with our time:  invest it; spend it; waste it and save it.  For example, prayer is never a waste of time, no matter how busy you are, and it's really an investment--the busier you are, the more you should pray!  We ought to save as much time as possible only in order to invest it in the Lord's work.  Wasting time is a sin and this is inevitable sometimes, but we must learn from experience.  How we spend time is a resume of our character and we should occupy and do things that are profitable and worthy of our time management.

Caveat:  Man is not made for idleness, but to be productive and busy in order to be fulfilled and have a purpose!  In sum, it's vital to make do with what time we are blessed with, because we are all virtually on borrowed time from God and will be held accountable, even for our R & R and what we do with our downtime, whether or not we can make it productive and meaningful.  Soli Deo Gloria!  

Minding Your Own Business

As concerned believers we are to look out for each other, not just Number One, and that includes being interested in each other's affairs and business and/or family dealings.  We are to mind our own business, though, when appropriate and not to become busybodies, snooping into affairs where we are not welcome.  It is tempting to become aloof and not care about the everyday, mundane lives of our circle of friends and sphere of influence.  Peter says that no believer should suffer as a busybody in other's matters, where we are intruding and unwelcome--the key is to show interest, not being "nosey," or prying!  Some people are encouraged just to be assured that we care and this is a methodology to preach the gospel.  We walk the straight and narrow path to balance the two extremes of ignoring them and meddling.

Paul warns about people who don't work, but expect others to support them while they become busybodies (cf. 2 Thess. 3:11).  We are told expressly to mind our own business in 1 Thess. 4:11, NKJV, boldface mine, and I quote:  "... [A]spire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you." We must seek an open door and seize the day (carpe diem, in Latin) when we see opportunity knocking where we can lend a helping hand--for Christ has no hands to help with but ours!

Some believers are naturally charismatic and gifted to handle private matters and to extend mercy and help to those in need in the body.  The primary cause of intrusion into the matters of other believers is lack of productive lives, where one has too much free time or downtime; the saying goes:  "An idle hand is the devil's workshop."  Note that Ecclesiastes 9:10 says that whatever we "find to do," do it with "all our might," and we are not made for idleness, but for work to suit our image of God and find fulfillment and meaning.

In matters of others, we are to demonstrate the love of the brethren and how we can extend it to all in need within the body of believers. Some folks believe religion is a personal matter and one should privatize it and not interfere.  One reminder:  don't get personal, without permission, the go-ahead, or the green light you cannot guarantee the outcome or final result--the Holy Spirit has the job of wooing and prompting the person's interest to open the door.   As a final caveat:  Never pry into uncharted territory where you aren't welcome--build a relationship first and earn the right to get personal!  Soli Deo Gloria!  

Numbering Our Days

"[Making] the most of your time, because the days are evil"  (Ephesians 5:16, NASB). 
"Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity"  (Col. 4:5, NASB).  
"Redeeming the time, because the days are evil"  (Eph. 5:16, KJV).   
"For a thousand years in Your sight
Are like yesterday when it passes by,
Or as a watch in the night"  (Psalm 90:4, NASB).


The Lord can teach us to number our days and get wise to the fact of our limited time.  Too many live like there's no tomorrow, and die like they didn't get a chance to live!  We tend to live like we won't die, and die like we didn't live!  The truth of the matter is that God holds the future, as Scripture (cf. Psalm 31:15) says, "My times [future] is in your hands."  We are to make the most of every opportunity as the Lord gives us in grace to make hay with.  When He gives us lemons, make lemonade!  In other words, carpe diem, or seize the day!  We are only here for a limited time and will be judged by our stewardship of the opportunities God has granted us.

When we truly number our days or see them for what they're worth in the perspective of eternity, we get wise and don't take life or time for granted!  What does this mean but to thank God constantly for all He has done in our lives, to be ever aware of His presence and blessings, and hopeful and prayerful for the future, as being in His hands?  We should thank God for prayers even yet to be answered! Only when we see how passing our life is, and frail, ready to fade as a leaf, do we have high regard for it and see it as a blessing not to be wasted--we don't have the right to live as we choose and spend time doing as our pleasure only.  When we say we belong to God, our time does too! We are never too busy for God's service!  "... All the days of my hard service I will wait for my renewal to come"  (Job 14:14, NIV).

We don't have the right to kill time, and we should always find ways to redeem or buy back whatever God has allotted us by grace.  We can invest our time, spend our time, or waste our time--choose wisely.   Somethings are not necessarily a waste of time, they just aren't necessary!  When we walk in the Spirit He guides us and makes our time valuable, but never think that God is out of control when the unexpected happens--we are never interrupted, just given opportunities.  No one is a waste of your time, just an investment! The two-time wasters are looking back with regret and looking ahead with worry--neither are necessary with the eye of faith.  Time management is in order for the faithful believer who will give account for his stewardship of God's resources.

In summation, we need to constantly update our schedule and agenda to put God in it, and to orient ourselves to His plans, not making Him fit into or approve of ours!  Soli Deo Gloria!