Redeem the Time

Primary Scripture: Ephesians 5:15–16 (LSB)

“Therefore look carefully how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”
— Ephesians 5:15–16

Time is one of the most valuable gifts God has given us.

Money can sometimes be replaced.

Possessions can be purchased again.

Opportunities may occasionally return.

But once a day is gone, we can never get it back.

Every morning, God gives us another 24 hours. The question is not whether we will spend them.

We will.

The question is:

What are we spending them on?

The Apostle Paul tells Christians to “look carefully” at how we walk and to be “redeeming the time.”

Those words should cause every believer to stop and examine how we are using the life God has given us.

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Your Time Belongs to God

We often speak about our time.

My schedule.

My weekend.

My free time.

My plans.

But Scripture reminds us that everything we possess ultimately belongs to God—including our days.

Psalm 90:12 says:

“So teach us to number our days, that we may present to You a heart of wisdom.”

Moses doesn’t ask God to teach us how to number our years.

He says our days.

That’s because life is lived one day at a time.

We don’t know how many days God has appointed for us.

We know only that today has been given to us.

And today matters.

The Great Distraction

We live in perhaps the most distracted generation in human history.

Our phones can provide unlimited entertainment.

Social media never ends.

Another video automatically begins.

Another notification appears.

Another headline demands attention.

Another argument erupts online.

Hours can disappear without us even realizing it.

None of these things is necessarily sinful by itself.

Rest is good.

Entertainment can be enjoyed appropriately.

Technology can be useful.

But even good things can become dangerous when they consume the time God intended us to use for better things.

Sometimes Satan doesn’t need to convince Christians to openly rebel against God.

He simply needs to keep us distracted.

Too distracted to pray.

Too distracted to read Scripture.

Too distracted to disciple our children.

Too distracted to serve someone.

Too distracted to share the gospel.

Too distracted to notice the person sitting right beside us.

A distracted Christian may still believe all the right things while accomplishing very little with the opportunities God has provided.

Busyness Isn’t the Same as Faithfulness

There’s another danger.

Some people aren’t wasting their lives doing nothing.

They’re wasting them being busy.

Schedules become packed.

Calendars become full.

Every hour has another responsibility.

Yet activity isn’t necessarily productivity, and productivity isn’t necessarily faithfulness.

Jesus Himself sometimes withdrew from the crowds to pray.

He rested.

He spent time with His disciples.

He was never hurried, yet He perfectly accomplished the work His Father gave Him.

The goal of redeeming the time isn’t to cram more activity into every day.

It’s to make sure the right things receive our time.

Your Days Are Limited

James gives us a sobering description of life:

“You are a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.”
— James 4:14

Most of us live as though we have unlimited time.

Someday I’ll serve.

Someday I’ll repair that relationship.

Someday I’ll share Christ with that person.

Someday I’ll start reading my Bible consistently.

Someday I’ll spend more time with my children.

Someday I’ll do what God has been prompting me to do.

But Scripture repeatedly warns us about presuming upon tomorrow.

You don’t need to live afraid of death.

But you should live aware of eternity.

Knowing that our days are limited makes today’s opportunities more precious.

Ordinary Moments Have Eternal Value

Redeeming the time doesn’t necessarily mean doing something dramatic.

Some of the most important things you’ll ever do may appear completely ordinary.

Reading Scripture with your children.

Calling someone who is lonely.

Praying for a friend.

Encouraging your spouse.

Serving quietly at church.

Taking time to listen to someone who is hurting.

Sharing the gospel during an unexpected conversation.

Helping a neighbor.

Working honestly when nobody is watching.

These moments may never become impressive stories.

But God can use ordinary obedience for extraordinary purposes.

Ephesians 2:10 reminds us:

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”

God has already prepared opportunities for you.

The challenge is being spiritually awake enough to recognize them.

Don’t Let Yesterday Steal Today

Some people waste today by constantly regretting yesterday.

Maybe you’ve wasted years.

Maybe you’ve made bad decisions.

Maybe there are opportunities you wish you could recover.

You cannot change yesterday.

But God’s grace allows you to live differently today.

Paul understood this.

He wrote:

“Forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal.”
— Philippians 3:13–14

Don’t spend another year mourning the years you lost.

Repent where necessary.

Learn from your mistakes.

Receive God’s forgiveness.

Then move forward.

The best time to begin living intentionally may have been years ago.

The second-best time is today.

What Deserves Your Time?

Jesus told Martha:

“You are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary.”
— Luke 10:41–42

That’s a powerful description of modern life.

So many things demand our attention.

But very few deserve our devotion.

Ask yourself:

What receives the best hours of my day?

What consumes most of my attention?

What am I constantly thinking about?

How much time am I investing in things that will matter eternally?

Your calendar often reveals your priorities more accurately than your intentions do.

Today’s Challenge

Take five minutes today and honestly examine how you spend your time.

Look at yesterday.

Where did your hours go?

Then ask God:

“Lord, what am I giving too much time to?”

And:

“What am I neglecting that You want me to prioritize?”

Maybe you need less scrolling and more Scripture.

Less television and more conversation with your family.

Less arguing online and more praying.

Less worrying and more serving.

Don’t attempt to completely restructure your life overnight.

Start with one change.

Redeem one hour.

Make one phone call.

Read one chapter.

Pray with one person.

Encourage one believer.

Share Christ with one person.

Take the next faithful step.

Remember…

You cannot save time.

You can only spend it.

And every day you’re spending something you can never recover.

So spend your life wisely.

Love your family.

Serve others.

Study God’s Word.

Pray faithfully.

Share the gospel.

Enjoy God’s blessings with gratitude.

Rest when you need to rest.

Work when it’s time to work.

And above everything else…

Walk closely with Jesus.

One day your time on earth will be finished.

Until then, every sunrise is another opportunity to faithfully use the life God has given you.

Redeem the time.

Live intentionally.

Keep your eyes on Christ.

And whatever today brings…

Finish the Race.