Redeem the Time!
- Bryan L. Ashpole
- Apr 23
- 3 min read
The Apostle Paul instructs us in Ephesians 5:15-16, “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” We must “make the most of every opportunity”; other translations use the phrase, “redeeming the time”. Preceptaustin.org explains it this way.
Charles Hummel wrote that our “greatest danger is letting the urgent (secular) things crowd out the important (divine things).” Our problem is that too often we live by life’s demands, instead of by God’s priorities. Remember that life is too short for us to do everything we want to do, but it is long enough for us to do everything God wants us to do.
…REDEEM (Eph 5:16) is the Greek word exagorazo which literally means to “buy out of the marketplace.” The picture is of a merchant who diligently seeks to buy up the best bargains in the marketplace, taking care not to miss the fleeting opportunities! REDEEM is in the present tense which calls for us to make it our lifestyle, our daily, moment-by- moment practice, to buy up for ourselves (to our eternal advantage) the strategic opportunities which God providentially places in our path. If we are walking wisely (Eph 5:15), filled with God’s Spirit (Eph 5:18), we will be spiritually alert to those divine opportunities in the “marketplace”, and will begin to view people and circumstances not just as encounters (or irritations) in time but as opportunities to impact eternity (read 2 Cor 4:18).
Each new day brings us 24 hours, 1440 minutes, 86,000 seconds, each moment a precious gift from God (Jas 1:17), each calling for us to be good stewards, mindful that one day we must give an account for how we spent the time God loaned us, how effectively we “bought up” the opportunities He provided. If someone gave us $1440 each day and said spend it or lose it, how diligent would we be to comply? Yesterday is but a cancelled check. Tomorrow is a promissory note. Today is all of the cash that you have. Spend it wisely.
…A survey asked, “What do you have to live for?”, to which 94% answered they were just enduring today and living for tomorrow. That is living unwisely (Eph 5:15). Too many people miss today because they are worrying about tomorrow (Read Jesus’ advice Mt 6:34). Worry does not make us ready but unready to redeem the time. As Adrian Rogers said, “We face the future out of breath, because we have been fighting tomorrow’s battles today!”
Are you living your life, simply “enduring today and living for tomorrow,” as the 94% testified? Or are you “making the most of every opportunity” today and every day? Are you “redeeming the time”, not just for your own benefit, but also for the Kingdom of God? The Lord has saved you and transformed your life, not just so that you can somehow survive the day or the week. He has redeemed you for His purpose and His kingdom. He has called you to be more than a conqueror (Romans 8:37). Don’t live your life haphazardly; don’t squander it carelessly. Instead, be strategic in how you live. Live by God’s priorities. Let’s invest our lives fully and wisely for Christ!
This Sunday, April 27, we will begin a new teaching series, “One Month to Live!” What if you knew you only had 30 days to live? How would it affect your life? This Sunday’s emphasis? “Make it Count!” I challenge you to: 1. Live Passionately. 2. Love Completely. 3. Learn Humbly. 4. Leave Boldly. Please invite someone to join you in the building or online for the Live broadcast on either Facebook (Honolulu AG) or our YouTube channel (Honolulu Assembly of God). We Livestream every Sunday to both locations and would love to have you join us.
Coming Up: Do you have “Something to Say”? All women and children are invited to a special potluck Lunch on Saturday, May 10, at 11:30am. Bring a friend or two and something delicious to add to the table. We will celebrate all Moms with a gift on May 11, Mother’s Day. My wife Shirley will be our very special speaker that day. Pentecost Sunday is coming up June 8 and we will celebrate the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at the birth of the church(Acts 2). Please don’t miss it.
Aloha ke Akua!