There are a number of ways that can describe how an individual lives his or her life. Some live their lives carefree, in pleasure and fun. Some live their lives in pursuit of money and possessions. Some live unproductive lives, trying to avoid responsibility. Some live their lives filled with worry and anxiety about the future. Some live their lives as workaholics – they live to work. There are many other ways people live their lives. Have you ever thought how someone might describe your life? Here is a description of how a Christian should live his or her life: Ephesians 5:15-16 “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” To walk circumspectly is to live your life carefully, worthily and filled with purpose. A fool doesn’t consider the consequences of his actions and is unwise in the things he spends his time doing and pursuing. You are not to be a fool, but wise.
A Christian is to redeem the time because the days are evil. You are to make the most of the time that you have. We all have 24 hours in a day, 168 hours in a week, and 8760 hours in a year. Are you making the most of the time that you have? The days are evil in that there is evilness all around you, tempting you to sin and to follow the ways of the world. You can either spend your time following the sinful ways of the world or in service to God the Father and to others. Since sin abounds, you should seize upon your opportunities to do good and make the most of your time. Jesus could come at any time. Matthew 24:43-44 “But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
Some people seem to go through life without much purpose, almost like someone who is sleep walking. Romans 13:11-14 “And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.” Your life could end soon or Jesus could return. There is obviously less time left in your lifetime as each day passes. How are you going to use the remaining time? I encourage you to use your remaining time wisely. Cast off any works of darkness. Put on the armor of light. Put on the Lord Jesus Christ. Make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.
Here is what the apostle Paul wrote the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 7:29-31 “But this I say, brethren, the time is short, so that from now on even those who have wives should be as though they had none, those who weep as though they did not weep, those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they did not possess, and those who use this world as not misusing it. For the form of this world is passing away.” You have to live your life every day in anticipation and readiness for life as you know it to end. But after this life, we look forward to eternal life with the Lord Jesus. Psalms 90:10-12 “The days of our lives are seventy years; and if by reason of strength they are eighty years, yet their boast is only labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. Who knows the power of Your anger? For as the fear of You, so is Your wrath. So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” The psalmist says that our life may last 70 or 80 years, but it could be more or less. However long our lives are, soon they end. Then his prayer to God is to teach us to number our days. In other words, help us to be wise in using the time that we have here on earth.
The young man Moses had things in perspective. Hebrews 11:24-26 “By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.” Rather than enjoying the passing pleasures of sin that were available as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter in Egypt, Moses chose to be one of God’s people and looked forward to the reward. Where is your faith? Are you enjoying the pleasures of sin or looking forward to your reward?
Jesus knew what it meant to use His time wisely. John 9:4-5 “I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” Be like Jesus; work for God while it is day. The night is coming when no one can work. Like Jesus, be the light of the world (Matthew 5:14).
I confess that I do not always use my time wisely. I pray that God will give me of His grace and enable me to be productive in His service. I pray that He will help me appreciate that I belong to Him. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” I want to give glory to God with my body and spirit. I pray that He will open my eyes to opportunities to serve Him.
You must not grow weary in your service for God and give up. In due time, you will reap if you do not lose heart. Galatians 6:9-10 “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.”
My encouragement to you is to redeem your time. However long you may live, life is short. Rather than wasting your time on things which have no eternal significance, be wise in how you use your time.