Thoughts on Ephesians 5:15-16

See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Ephesians 5:15-16

When I read these verses just the other day, I started wondering what some of these words really meant. So, I went to Blue Letter Bible and this is what I found.

To walk circumspectly means to walk “carefully” or “diligently” or “perfectly”. We need to watch our step at all times, making sure we are doing what God would have us to do.

Redeeming means “to buy up for oneself’” or “buying up the opportunity”; in other words, it means taking every chance you get to use your time for the Lord. “Time” here simply means “the opportune or seasonable time”. We are not to waste our lives, not just as a whole but in each and every part of it. Our pursuit should be to find every opportunity possible to use our time wisely and for the glory of our Lord.

This does not mean that you are wasting time unless you are at church or on the mission field every minute of every day. For some of us who work at home, taking time to teach our children the things of the Lord is one way to redeem our time. Or maybe we are making our homes a place of peace and rest for our husbands; that can be redeeming the time. But some of us may not have a husband or children of our own yet. Are we making the most of the times God gives us to minister, both in our homes and out; whether we live with family or roommates? At school, at church, at work, anywhere that God has you right now? God calls each of us to make the most of what time He has given us. He knows where He has placed you and why He has you there. As His servants, our job is to make sure we are fulfilling that purpose, remaining devoted to seizing every opportunity we can of doing good and pointing others to Jesus.

The word “evil” in this verse means “full of labours, annoyances, hardships”. Jesus told us in John 16:33, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” We know that our lives as Christians are going to have, not “might” or “maybe”, but will have hardships, troubles, annoyances, and labours. We can’t escape them. But we are told that we need to make the most of the time God gives each one of us here on this earth. Our responsibility is not to get out of trials or to make the easier, but to use the time as we are going through them, to benefit God’s Kingdom. We are here to bring Him glory, honor and praise, both in word and in deed.

So let us be encouraged to start now looking for ways to make the most of our time here. Our time is short and full of trouble; let’s start taking those opportunities to do the will of the Father. Let us watch our steps; each move we make, each word we speak, each thought we have with a focus on pleasing our Lord. What a blessing to our Saviour, if we are willing to do as He has asked us to!