REDEEMING THE TIME - Ephesians 5:15-21
Time is a precious commodity. The American poet Carl Sandburg once wrote, “Time is the
coin of your life. It is the only coin you have, and only you can determine how it will be spent. Be careful lest you
Paul exhorts the Ephesian believers to be stewards of their
time, given the depraved nature of the society around them: wise counsel for our day!
The Greek word for “evil” means vicious, hurtful, evil influence which leads to the degeneracy of character.
In order to guard themselves against the evil day, Paul exhorts the believers to “walk
circumspectly”; to use their time in a God-honoring manner, that they might
experience the fullness of life in Christ!
let other people spend it for you.”
(v.15-17) The Greek word for “circumspectly” is akribos: diligently, exactly. The word
“Redeem” means to rescue from loss, to buy up; improve opportunity. The Latin
phrase, Carpe Diem (seize the day) comes to mind. How do we “redeem” the time?
Answer: by walking, not as “fools” (unwise), but as “wise” (literally, “clear”). The
Greek word for “unwise”means: mindless, stupid, ignorant, egotistical, rash or
unbelieving. Walking in wisdom is to “understand what the will of the Lord is” (v.17b),
and begins with reverence for the Lord. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the
knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. Proverbs 9:10
To walk circumspectly is to be a diligent disciple of Christ. Diligence: constant and
earnest effort to accomplish what is undertaken; persistent exertion of body or mind.
Paul possessed such diligence – (ttt) Acts 20:22-24. What “moves” you? What hinders
your diligence in seeking and serving the Lord? For Judas it was money; for the rich young ruler,
possessions; for Demas (one of Paul’s companions) it was love for the world! Any person, place or thing,
which keeps us from diligently (circumspectly) following Christ is an enemy of the
cross – a WASTE of time!
Apart from diligence, we risk the chance of squandering our time. So teach us to number our
days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12 Without diligent discipleship, we will soon
find ourselves in a state of compromise, wasting our time on frivolous things, while
neglecting our faith! An example of this is found in the Old Testament. King Asa, a
great grandson of Solomon, was the sixth King of Judah; he started well, but ended
wrong. God, through the prophet Azariah, warns Asa (ttt) 2 Chronicles 15:2: “If you
will be with Me I will be with you!” However, Asa did not continue with the Lord; in 2
Chronicles 16, he chose rather to trust in the Syrian King for deliverance from Baasha,
King of Israel (Northern Israel). (ttt) 2 Chronicles 16:7-14. Asa started right but ended
wrong! He stopped dealing with the high places, which lead him to a low place!
(2 Chronicles 16:9): the eyes of the Lord seek out the diligent! The Hebrew word for
the phrase “show Himself strong” is chazaq: courageous; strengthen, cure, help, repair, fortify. God longs
to show off through His people. He rewards the “loyal (diligent) heart.” God desires a
perfect heart, not a perfect performance! David wasn’t perfect, but he was a man
after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14). “Loyal” means complete, friendly. God spoke
with Moses “face to face, as a man speaks to his friend.” (Gen.33:11a). Jesus calls us “friends!” (ttt)
John 15:14-17.
Diligence requires we deal with the high places of our lives, lest we succumb to the evil
influences around us.
I hate woodpeckers! Every year, one comes around hammering on our house. My first
response is to load my gun, but they are a protected species. One of the solutions I read
about regarding woodpeckers is to change the food source. If woodpeckers repeatedly drum
on your home, chances are they're doing so for good reason. Your home may be harboring an insect population,
such as bees, ants, or termites, and providing an inviting atmosphere for woodpeckers. Solution: Go to your attic
or the area of your house closest to where the woodpecker has been pecking. Look for dead insects lying on the
windowsills and in corners. Check for bees' nests in the rafters. Look for loose, rotting wood both inside and
outside the house. These are all signs of an insect infestation.
(ttt) 1 Peter 5:8-11. Stop being Satan’s food source! Get the dead and rotten, things
out of your life! How? Through repentance and walking circumspectly (diligently),
“steadfast in the faith!” Let Jesus into the attic – the hidden places of your life.
Diligently seek the Lord! You may suffer a while; but Christ will perfect, establish
strengthen and settle everything regarding your life!
(v.18-21) Paul warns the believers to not live under the influence of worldly “spirits.”
“Dissipation” (KJV – excess) implies unsavedness, debauchery, drunkenness. One
commentator writes:
drunkenness was a danger to which the Ephesian believers were
exposed continually; a vice to which those around them were much
addicted. It is quite possible here that Paul is alluding to the “orgies of
Bacchus,” and the festival celebrations in honor of this “pagan god,”
(Bacchus: Roman god of wine and fertility). During these festivals, men
and women regarded it as an acceptable act of “worship” to become
intoxicated, and with wild songs and cries to run through streets, and
fields, and vineyards. Plato says, during these abominable ceremonies
of “pagan” worship, it was difficult to find in all Attica (ancient Greece)
a single sober man. Rosenmuller, Alt. u. neu. Morgenland, in loc. (Barnes' Notes).
Rather than being filled with the spirits of this world, Paul exhorts the believers to be
“filled” with the Spirit of God! The Greek word for ”filled” is pleroo (play-ro'-o): level up (a
hollow), or (figuratively) to furnish (influence), to satisfy, execute (an office), to finish (New Exhaustive Strong's
The intoxicants of this world cannot fill the hollow (empty) places of
mankind’s heart, nor satisfy his soul! Note: a filled believer is a furnished believer;
having divine peace, joy, power, and discernment, which enable us to execute our
office as Christ’s followers! We remain under the influence of the Spirit by staying in
the word, prayer, and willful obedience! In doing so we can better manage our time,
as our day is guided by a sense of divine priorities. (Dr. Phil or be filled).
Numbers and Concordance).
Paul reveals three attributes related to being filled with the Spirit of God: (1) Praise
(v.19) He has put a new song in my mouth — Praise to our God; Many will see it and fear, And will trust in the
Lord. Psalm 40:3 (2) Thanksgiving (v.20). (3) Submission (v.21) (ttt) Philippians 2:1-8. This
is impossible apart from being “filled” with Christ! Notice: (v.15-21) serve as a
precursor to Paul’s exhortation regarding marriage in (v.22-33).
CONCLUSION: To walk circumspectly (diligently) is to “redeem” the time. Even “the
years the locusts have eaten” (Joel 2:25), God is able to give back to you! (ttt) 1 Peter
4:1-6.