In a women’s bible study at our church, we’ve been looking at the area of time management. As I began looking at what God’s Word says about this area, the first three verses I came across were very insightful:
“See then that you walk, circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” -Ephesians 5:15-17
“Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.” -Colossians 4:15
“So teach us to number, our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” -Psalm 90:12
There were two repeated words/phrases in these passages that stuck out to me – “redeeming the time” and “wisdom”. I was thinking about what it means exactly to “redeem our time” and decided to look up the definition of “redeem”. The first one I came across was: “to get or win back”. I thought, “Well, that doesn’t apply to these verses because you can’t ‘get or win back’ time. Once it’s gone, it’s gone.” I looked up the Greek word for “redeem” here in these verses, and it literally means “to buy up, to rescue from loss”. There was also this definition that I thought was so good:
“To make wise and sacred use of every opportunity for doing good, so that zeal and well doing are as it were the purchase money by which we make the time our own.” (blueletterbible.org)
The late evangelist Billy Graham shared these powerful and convicting words about our time:
“What are we doing with it? Are we frittering it away, letting it slip through our fingers, squandering it in wanton waste? Or are we treasuring it, using it to maximum advantage, filling every minute with 60 seconds’ worth of service to God? The Apostle Paul counsels us to “redeem the time” (Cf. Ephesians 5:16). Time cannot be relived; it can only be redeemed. Let us treat time as a trust.” (Billy Graham Three Ways To Use Time Wisely)
The meaning of the second repeated word I saw in these passages (wisdom) is: “skill, prudence”. In thinking about this word, wisdom, I was reminded of Psalm 111 which tells us “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom”. True wisdom starts with “fearing the Lord” – having a healthy fear of God, but also having a reverence and respect for who He is.
Another thing I noticed with these passages is that redeeming/making wise use of our time is not just a suggestion, but a command. God is not saying, “Make wise use of your time because it will make your life easier and you’ll be more successful”, but He tells us to: “REDEEM the time…WALK in wisdom.”
In looking up other verses on the area of time management, I noticed three different categories that these verses could fall under…
Diligence
“The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty, but those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty.” -Proverbs 21:5
“Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise, which, having no captain, overseer or ruler, provides her supplies in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest.” -Proverbs 6:6-8
“And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” -Hebrews 6:11, 12
“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going.” -Ecclesiastes 9:10
“But as you abound in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us—see that you abound in this grace also.” -2 Corinthians 8:7
The meaning for the Hebrew and Greek word “diligence” in these verses here is – determination, earnestness in accomplishing, to give all diligence, interest oneself most earnestly.
Webster’s Dictionary, 1828 defines diligence as – steady application in business of any kind; constant effort to accomplish what is undertaken; exertion of body or mind without unnecessary delay or sloth; due attention.
Faithfulness
“Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.” -1 Corinthians 4:1-2
“He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.” -Luke 16:10
The meaning for the faithful here is – trusty, faithful; of persons who show themselves faithful in the transaction of business, the execution of commands, or the discharge of official duties; one who can be relied on.
Webster’s definition of “faithful” is– constant in the performance of duties or services; exact in attending to commands.
A Heavenly Perspective
“While we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” -2 Corinthians 4:18
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal…But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” -Matthew 6:19-20, 33
“If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” -Colossians 3:1-3
“And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.” -Colossians 3:23,24
It can be easy to get overly focused on the “here and now”, and we can tend to forget that this earth and the things in it won’t last forever. While pondering this, I had to ask myself: “Are the things I’m doing with my life on this earth counting for eternity?” And even though eternally valuable things like sharing the gospel with someone is the most important work we can do, daily little tasks such as doing the dishes or folding the laundry can have eternal value as well if we are doing them with a heart of “as to the Lord” and being faithful with whatever task God has set before us.
Going back to the second repeated word in the verses at the start of this post ~ wisdom, the truth in Psalm 111 shows us that we cannot have wisdom without God. If we try to accomplish this area of time management on our own, we will fail. But if we are seeking HIS wisdom and HIS strength for these tasks, He has promised to help us.
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.” -James 1:5-6
“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” -Hebrews 4:16
Sincerely,
sincerely-amanda.com 