A Reflection on Redeeming the Time
by LewisPaul writes to the church in Ephesus (and, by extension, to all churches) that they should be about “redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” Just what does that mean, and how do we redeem the time?
Let’s start with two phrases that are common to our vernacular. The first phrase, which corresponds closely to redeeming time, is “buying time.” We use that in all kinds of ways, and what we usually mean is that we are holding off some undesired outcome for a while. A judge may order a cooling-off period for a union, for instance, before they go on strike, thus “buying time” which might be used to reach a settlement. A student may have a paper due but not be ready, and may “buy time” by seeking an extension.
The second phrase is “spending time,” and that is one we know well. Most of us prefer to spend time in the presence of people we like, and in activities that we like. I’d rather spend time reading, walking with my wife or playing golf than I would paying bills, being yelled at, or listening to bad music.
The common thread in both buying time and spending time is that they are often centered on our own desires. Redeeming the time, at least in a Biblical sense, is far less self-centered and far more God-centered. What Paul is encouraging us to do is to use time to do things that God wants us to do. Many of those can be found throughout scripture, but they include encouraging one another, teaching one another, being filled with God’s spirit, acting wisely in all things, and being thankful in all things.
You see, redeeming the time is not about a particular activity, it is about a particular attitude. With the right attitude, even spending time can be redeeming.
Under the mercy,
Lewis
April 28th, 2008 at 11:53 am
Whew! I feel better now.
How about making the most of the time? for God, of course.
I found this web site 130+ things you can with your time..
I wonder, did I spend my time wisely looking for that resource.
April 28th, 2008 at 12:04 pm
And “redeem the time” does not seem to appear on that entire list!
“Making the most of your time” is actually the way the NASB translates the phrase “redeeming the time,” and I think that is a good translation. What I like about the word redeeming, as I said in my message yesterday, is that it carries with it the sense of gaining or regaining ownership of something, and in this particular case the word for redeem also carries the idea of gaining that ownership so the item (time) can be given over to another or set free.
And now I’m looking at the beautiful day out my window and wondering how I can set both it and me free!
May 5th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
We all know that time=money. Well, sorta. Because money can grow at pretty high rates but we only get four score +/- a score of years to walk this planet. Yes, even Bill Gates. If we focus our lives on redeeming the time then we spend less time driving with our eyes looking in the rearview mirror. More effort in making every minute count, and maybe making different choices that conserve time for others. I notice that when I’m hurrying through life, time seems to vanish, but when I’m using my head I seem to end up with more of it. This time dilation may not be what Paul is talking about, but it seems to happen to me. He says “live wisely”, and I’m wired in such a way that I’ve got to slow down… and make the morning last.
May 5th, 2008 at 10:02 pm
Wise words, Keith. I especially like the idea that time “seems to vanish” when you hurry. I know that when I’m in a hurry I almost never enjoy the journey, and that certainly robs me of time.
But the real key, as you point out, is understanding how we each individually can best redeem the time. Using it wisely will give us more of it, so perhaps we should spend a little time figuring out just what that means for each of us and then putting it into practice.
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:32 pm
My maternal grandparents redeemed the time like crazy. They worked all the time — doing good things for other people — the ultimate incarnation of the Puritan work ethic. I enjoyed seeing them work so hard, but I would have liked for them to learn how to just hang out more. When they came to visit us, my dad (fully capable of doing all house projects) would hand my grandpa a list of things to do. We all hoped the list was long and difficult because as soon as the list was done, and before the paint was dry, he and my grandma would hop in their RV and hit the road. There was more to be done elsewhere!
Relationships take time to build, and it can sometimes look like a wasted or frivolous pursuit to play games, chat about nothing, shoot hoops, linger over a meal, or whatever it takes just to be available. But I think this is time well spent.
Hint: Sometimes God looks like a downright slowpoke. And the only time I can think of Jesus in a hurry was when he was clearing out the temple. (I think he was in a pretty bad mood that day.)