Friday, September 18, 2009
Ephesians 5:15-16 Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.
USE YOUR TIME WISELY
The way we use our time is important. We have all been told by parents, teachers, or bosses to "use our time wisely," and here the Apostle Paul writes the same thing to the Christians at the city of Ephesus. He says, "Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity." "Making the most of every opportunity" is the phrase that means "use your time wisely." It goes back to the days of the merchant traders who would have to buy and sell their goods at the proper time. If they did not conduct their business before the season was over, they would lose out. God urges us to use our time wisely--to conduct our business while we have opportunity.
How does a Christian use His time wisely? In the fifth chapter of the letter to the Ephesians, a person gets a pretty good idea what is not a wise use of our time. The Apostle talks about the "fruitless deeds of darkness" (v. 11) like sexual immorality, impurity, greed, obscenity, foolish talk, and coarse joking. We do not make the most of our opportunities as children of God when we get side-tracked and walk in the ways of darkness. If we are walking in the darkness when we could be walking in the light, then the devil is stealing time from us that could be used for the strengthening of our faith, for the building up of others, for the witnessing of His saving gospel to the heathen, and for better preparing us for the life to come.
God's word reveals to us the activities that He does not consider a waste of time. Things like loving one another, helping one another, speaking well of your neighbor, remaining faithful to your marriage vows, cultivating good friendships with each other, forgiving one another. And beyond just His will for your daily living, He wants you to know His eternal will for you. He desires your very salvation. He wants you to trust Jesus, His death and resurrection for the forgiveness of your sins, so you can join Him in the mansions of heaven. When we know and trust God's love for us in Christ, then we can walk in that love.
Therefore we use our time wisely when we spend it in developing a deeper understanding of His will through His word. Our time spent in church, in Bible Class, in Sunday School, in personal devotion--this is all time spent wisely. We use our time wisely when we put His will into action in our lives, caring for one another, spreading the good news of salvation, and things like that. Ask yourself, "What can I do today to glorify my Savior Jesus Christ?" Make the most of every opportunity!
