One of the most sobering verses in the New Testament is Ephesians 5:15–16:
“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.”
Paul doesn’t simply tell us to “use our time well.” He tells us to redeem it. The word in Greek carries the sense of “buying back” or “making full use of every opportunity.” Why? Because time is not neutral—it is either invested for Christ or wasted.
1. Time Is a Gift, Not a Guarantee
We often live as if time stretches endlessly before us. Yet Scripture reminds us that life is “a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes” (James 4:14). To redeem time is to see each day as entrusted, not owned. Every morning you wake up is a fresh loan from God, given to be used wisely.
2. Living With Eternity in Mind
The world urges us to live for comfort, success, or recognition. But eternity puts everything in perspective. Jesus asked, “What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?” (Matthew 16:26).
Redeeming the time means we measure success not by earthly applause, but by eternal fruit. It means asking, “How will this choice echo in eternity?”
3. Small Decisions Shape Eternal Outcomes
Redeeming time doesn’t always mean grand gestures like selling everything to move overseas. More often, it looks like:
- Choosing prayer over endless scrolling.
- Using your skills at work with integrity as unto the Lord.
- Investing in people—mentoring, encouraging, serving—rather than living only for self.
- Saying no to distractions so you can say yes to what matters.
These choices seem small, but they are the bricks that build an eternal legacy.
4. The Tension of Faith and Secular Life
Many believers struggle to balance their spiritual walk with career, studies, or family. The truth is, redeeming time doesn’t mean abandoning your responsibilities—it means infusing them with eternal purpose. You can glorify God in your spreadsheets, your classrooms, your parenting, and even your rest, when done in faith and gratitude. Paul reminds us: “Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).
5. Redeeming Time in a Broken World
Paul said we must redeem the time “because the days are evil.” We live in a world of distraction, injustice, and spiritual warfare. Time will be stolen if we are not intentional. Redeeming time requires discernment: choosing what aligns with God’s kingdom and rejecting what wastes the soul.
A Call to Action
Redeeming the time is not about guilt, but about grace. God is not asking us to sprint endlessly, but to walk purposefully. To wake each day and ask:
- “Lord, how can I honor You in my work, my words, my relationships today?”
- “How can I sow seeds that will bear eternal fruit?”
The truth is, we will not redeem time perfectly. But we serve the One who entered time, redeemed us by His blood, and gives eternal significance to even the smallest offering done in His name.
So let’s live not for what fades, but for what lasts. Let’s redeem the time—because eternity is nearer than we think.