(55) Making a Time Investment

(Note:  this post is part of a series on the eternality of God)

Have you ever looked back on the way you’ve spent you money and been angry with yourself? Perhaps you have wished you would have used your money more wisely. Maybe you’ve looked back and realized you wasted money. Maybe you wished you would have saved and invested some. The good thing about money is we can usually earn more and even correct our prior bad habits.

This is not so easy with time. Once it’s gone, it’s gone. Whatever we do with our time is either a waste or an investment. Time is a very precious resource. Because of this, Paul challenges us to use our time very carefully.

Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time (redeeming the time), because the days are evil. (Eph.5:15-16 NAU)

This short passage is packed with powerful wisdom and vital principles. The important verses that come just before these provide the context that help us understand the depths of what Paul is saying. These verses contain a strong admonition to believers. To sum it up, Paul says, “Don’t live like unbelievers, live like those who have the light from God. Because God’s light will reveal the truth, expose all sin, and judge sin.”

So, because God is going to judge sin, and because God has given us His light to discern righteousness from unrighteousness, you should, “be careful how you walk not as unwise but as wise.” Don’t live thoughtlessly, be careful, thoughtful, intentional in how you use your time. Don’t act like people who have no wisdom, take advantage of the wisdom available to you from God.

Paul continues, “making the most of your time (NAU).” Here, the KJV translates this more accurately, “redeeming the time.” The Greek word here is the word that speaks of redemption, the act of paying the price to buy something. Here, Paul is saying that we need to buy up time. But he’s not just talking about time generally. The word he uses refers to smaller segments of time. We are to buy up segments of time because the “days” are evil.

We could paraphrase Paul’s words this way, “Be careful how you spend your time in life. Don’t live thoughtlessly. Live according to the light of God and His wisdom. Snatch up moments you have to invest in righteousness because we are living in an evil world.”

How do we live in light of eternity? We live on purpose. We live intentionally. We live according to the commands and principles of God’s light found in His Word. We strive to assure that every moment counts. We strive to make sure we are living in such a way that we are living out the righteousness of Christ.

Why? Because we are living in an evil world. The influence of evil is all around us. The world is trying to squeeze us into its mold (Rom. 12:2 Phillips). Because it’s easy just to go along with the crowd and the path they are taking in life. It’s easy to get caught up in the activities that are really a waste of time if not outright sinful. It’s easy to waste your time. It takes intentional and determined effort to invest your time for eternity.

So, be careful, thoughtful, intentional, focused, and wise about how you use your most precious resource. Once its gone you can’t get it back. Don’t waste it . . . invest it!

Soli Deo Gloria

Next:  (56 )Time Investment Strategies