Redeeming the Time ~ Buying the Opportunity

"Redeeming the time, because the days are evil." Eph 5:16

Strong's definition:
Redeeming; to make wise and sacred use of every opportunity for doing good, so that zeal and well doing are as it were the purchase money by which we make the time our own

Matthew Henry:
"It follows, redeeming the time (v. 16), literally, buying the opportunity. It is a metaphor taken from merchants and traders who diligently observe and improve the seasons for merchandise and trade. It is a great part of Christian wisdom to redeem the time. Good Christians must be good husbands of their time, and take care to improve it to the best of purposes, by watching against temptations, by doing good while it is in the power of their hands, and by filling it up with proper employment—one special preservative from sin. They should make the best use they can of the present seasons of grace. Our time is a talent given us by God for some good end, and it is misspent and lost when it is not employed according to his design. If we have lost our time heretofore, we must endeavour to redeem it by doubling our diligence in doing our duty for the future. The reason given is because the days are evil, either by reason of the wickedness of those who dwell in them, or rather "as they are troublesome and dangerous times to you who live in them.’’ Those were times of persecution wherein the apostle wrote this: the Christians were in jeopardy every hour. When the days are evil we have one superadded argument to redeem time, especially because we know not how soon they may be worse. People are very apt to complain of bad times; it were well if that would stir them up to redeem time..."

John Gill:
" Redeeming the time; 'ye buy this opportunity'...taking time for a space of time, it denotes a careful and diligent use of it, an improvement of it to the best advantage; and shows that it is valuable and precious, and is not to be trifled with, and squandered away, and be lost, as it may be; for it can neither be recalled nor prolonged: and taking it for an opportunity of doing good to ourselves or others, it signifies that no opportunity of discharging our duty to God and man, of attending on the word and ordinances of the Gospel, and to the private and public exercises of religion, of gaining advantage to our own souls, or of gaining the souls of others, and of doing good either to the bodies or souls of men, should be neglected; but even all risks should be run,"

John Wesley:
"With all possible care redeeming the time - Saving all you can for the best purposes; buying every possible moment out of the hands of sin and Satan; out of the hands of sloth, ease, pleasure, worldly business; the more diligently, because the present are evil days, days of the grossest ignorance, immorality, and profaneness."

Lord, you have given me "purchase money" to redeem the time in my life. Spirit, stir up within me your zeal and well doing that I may watch against temptations and do good while it is in the power of my hands to do so. Help me to fill my time with proper employment as a way to preserve my life and those around me from sin. My time is a talent given by You, Lord,  for some good end, and I misspend and lose it when it is not employed according to Your design. I should never neglect an opportunity of fulfilling my duty to You and man, of time spent in Your word and teachings of the Gospel, and to the private and public exercises of my faith, of gaining advantage to my own soul, or of gaining the souls of those around me, and of doing good either to the bodies or souls of men.  But I should risk all to pursue these things.  Forgive me for the many times I have failed to do so.

Lord, using the gift of your strength and zeal teach me to buy every possible moment out of the hands of sin and Satan; out of the hands of sloth, ease, pleasure, worldly business and the many distractions and sins that lure me from You. I praise you that you cleanse me from these sins, you equip me with the necessary tools to overcome them and empower me to deny my selfish heart as I learn to follow You.