Eph 5:15-16 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Paul was not one to tout worldly wisdom, but at the same time He made it crystal clear that Christians are not to be unwise. We are not to be, as Pastor Maxie Dunnam put it, “intellectually lazy or shallow in our thinking.” And that is what caught my eye as standing out in verse 15… not as fools, but as wise. Paul makes the case for practical wisdom and he underlines it with verse 16. Paul also used that term in Colossians:
Col 4:5 Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.
This is one that has always been difficult for me to grab hold of. Just what does it mean to “redeem the time” and how does that fit in with being wise?
The Greek word Paul uses for “redeem” is exagorazo, and it refers to ransoming, rescuing, or buying up something. It comes from the root word that means to “bring forth out of or lead out.” I got that but it was time that I struggled with. How do you apply that word to time? The key is to understand the meaning of time… kairos. It’s not referring directly to minutes, hours, or days, here it is applied to opportunity or season. Paul was referring to the belief that there would be a period of crisis before Jesus comes the second time. And because He is coming in judgment, there is an urgency for us to make the best use of our time in taking advantage of the opportunity we have been given in this short season.
Our faith in Christ requires that we do not take the path of the world and try to escape from the time we live in. Our faith is what gives us the strength and hope to press on in the midst of the spiritual chaos surrounding us. We hold the Gospel that is the only answer to “redeeming” life for a lost world, and we cannot afford to let the “opportunity” to share that message slip away in the very short “season” in which we live. Just because the world is falling into moral decay is no reason for us to relax our witness for Christ. If we do, then we are just turning a blind eye to the lower moral standards that surround us.
When Paul ties “wisdom” and “time” together, he is telling us that we need to read the signs of the time through bifocal lenses. We need to see the world as it is and recognize the fact that evil is increasing daily and identify it. We can’t hide our eyes from it. Yet with the other lens we see the hope that lies before us, the hope that a desperate world needs to see. But we can’t allow our hope to become just a part of what the world tries to muster up… “optimism.” The world attempts to look at evil and try to find some reason to be optimistic in the midst of it. They look for some form of “social responsibility” for the answer, some form of social progress that will resolve the world’s problems. And while we cannot allow ourselves to fall into that trap, we are not to ignore our social responsibilities as Christians. So what are we to do? Paul answers that question for us in the next verse:
Eph 5:17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
Our duty, our Christian duty, is to first and foremost look for the will of God. That is the mark of walking circumspectly. As the days grow shorter and evil seems to be increasing daily, it is critical that we look for what God would have us do in every situation. We need to be “wise” in “redeeming” the time. Only with His wisdom can we wisely take advantage of every opportunity He sets before us. And that is not going to happen if we lose our focus on staying in the Word of God and being faithful in our worship and prayer life. And the fundamental element in accomplishing that is found in verse 18:
Eph 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
The Holy Spirit is our key to “wisely” walking through this evil world with “Godly Wisdom.” And as I have said many times, it is not a one time action. As used here the word “filled” is translated “be being filled.” It is a constant process for the Christian if we are to successfully “redeem the time.” Why? Because we need fresh vision, power, and strength each and every day because our calling is to “give out” each and every day… giving out the message of salvation that we have been given. And that means we need to be refilled!
Let’s be sure that we are viewing the time through bifocals. Let’s not ignore the evil that is right in front of us every day. Our calling does not allow us to hide from evil, we are to battle evil each and every day. That’s why we have been given the “Armor of God” (Eph 6). But at the same time, in light of the soon return of our bridegroom, let’s view the day through the lens of wisdom so that we many “redeem the time.” All we have to do is reflect on the rapidly changing (morally disintegrating) world we live in to see and acknowledge the desperate need it has for the Gospel of Christ. Therefore it is incumbent upon each of us to ensure that we are seeking God’s will, each and every day. How does He want us to redeem the opportunity today? I’m pretty certain He will show us that we are to follow His example… taking advantage of the time by walking in love, forgiveness, and serving Him by being faithful to the Gospel.
How appropriate the picture of two snails looking at time is when we consider that the world is doing just that. Hoping it will slow down. What they don’t know is that it will one day run out. That is the message we have been given and we are to use the time wisely in delivering it!
You can learn more about becoming spiritually empowered in Volume 2 of The Way of Enoch… The Spirit Filled Christian.