Ephesians 5:16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. I. THE VALUE AND POWER OF TIME. God's estimate of it very high. The one gift He gives His creatures sparingly. Millions of flowers, gems on the fingers of Nature, burning on every landscape. But not so does God give time: only one moment at a time, and never that until the previous one has been taken back. Also, we may see the power of time from the lives of men who have carved their way from obscurity to fame. They achieved their success entirely from perseveringly employing spare moments wasted by others. And time is irreparable; once gone you cannot recall it, be your grief never so deep and your regret never so unfeigned. II. THE IMPORTANCE OF REDEEMING AND HOW TO DO IT. Time equally given to all; so all have the same responsibility. He that has a soul to be saved from eternal death need not have one idle moment. He that has a heaven to win, has enough to do to occupy all his time. They redeem their time who employ it — 1. In gaining useful knowledge. 2. In doing good to others. 3. In employing it for the purpose of gaining an honest livelihood. 4. In prayer and self-examination to make the heart better. 5. In seeking salvation, and endeavouring to do the will of God.There are several temptations to waste time which we should avoid. 1. The allurements to sinful pleasures and amusements. 2. Novel reading. 3. Temptations to ambition, spending time in self-aggrandisement. 4. Dissipation. 5. In wild and visionary plans. 6. Luxurious indulgence in dressing, eating, drinking, and overmuch sleep.Determine, then, to redeem your time by — 1. Usefully employing it. 2. Methodically employing it. 3. With an eye to God's judgment day employing it, rescuing each opportunity from the chains of sloth, ease, and listlessness. (G. T. Dunney, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. |
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