DISCOURSE: 2119
REDEEMING THE TIME
Ephesians 5:15-16. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
WHILE the Christian has so many corruptions within, and temptations without, he needs to be continually urged to vigilance and activity in the concerns of his soul. It was to the saints at Ephesus, even to the most eminent amongst them, that St. Paul addressed the exhortation before us: in which we may notice,
I. The duty of maintaining a circumspect walk—
We are evidently referred in the text to what had been spoken in the preceding context: from whence we are to gather the precise ideas which the Apostle comprehended in the terms, “Walk circumspectly.”
We should walk,
1. As persons who enjoy the light—
[Those who walk in the dark, know not how to order their steps [Note: John 12:35.]: but they who walk in the noon-day, can see how and where to place their feet with accuracy and exactness [Note: This is the more proper meaning of ἀκριβῶς.]. Now we have the light of God’s word [Note: ver. 8, 13, 14.]; and should therefore carefully avoid setting our foot in a place where we are liable to slip, or contact defilement.]
2. As persons that are afraid of erring—
[We are ever ia danger of being led astray by the example of those around us. But we should “call no man master;” we should not follow St. Paul himself, any further than he followed Christ. If any should presume to vindicate what is contrary to the word of God, we should “take care not to be deceived” by their specious reasonings; and instead of being “partakers with them,” we should “avoid all fellowship with their unfruitful works;” yea, instead of conforming to them, we should “reprove them [Note: ver. 6, 7, 11.].”]
3. As persons that are anxious to please their God—
[Neither the opinions of others, nor selfish interests, are to regulate our conduct. We have but one inquiry to make, “What will please my God?” That view, that desire, that purpose, must be the spring of our actions, whether in public or in private [Note: ver. 10, 17.]. With a view to approve ourselves to him, we should as carefully inspect our motives and principles, our dispositions and frames, as if we saw him immediately present, and observed his eye fixed upon our hearts.]
From this general view of the subject, we descend to notice,
II.
An important instance, wherein, more especially, circumspection should be mentioned—
There is nothing wherein circumspection is more needful, than in the improvement of our time—
[It is lamentable to think how much time is lost for want of a due solicitude to “redeem” it. Even in relation to temporal concerns, there are very few who are good economists of their time. But, in reference to their eternal interests, men let ten thousand opportunities pass them unheeded, and unimproved. Many have passed through half their lives, and not vet begun to seek the salvation of their souls. And of those who have not been altogether so careless, how many are there whose spiritual interests are at a very low ebb! They have not sufficiently watched the lapse of time, or been duly impressed with a sense of its value: and hence, “when for the time they ought to be qualified for teachers, they still need to be taught the first principles of the oracles of God [Note: Hebrews 5:12.].”]
We should therefore set ourselves instantly to “redeem the time”—
[We should consider what it is that has robbed us of our precious hours, and guard particularly against it. Has pleasure allured us by its charms? We should renounce its gratifications, as far as they interfere with our spiritual welfare. Has business too much occupied our time? We should apportion to it what is necessary in our respective situations; but not suffer it to supersede our religious exercises. And, if the duties of our calling are such as to leave but a contracted space for reading and prayer, we should be the more earnest in consecrating the whole of the Sabbath to the service of our God. Visiting and company are found in general to be among the chief destroyers of our time: against these we should resolutely set ourselves; that, if we cannot recover what is passed, we may at least prevent the depredations which we are but too likely to experience in future. From sleep too we should redeem all that has been allotted to mere indulgence, and all that nature docs not require for the renovation of her strength. Our whole time is little enough for the concerns of our souls; and therefore we should suffer as little of it as possible to run to waste, or to pass off in unproductive channels.]
To enforce the observance of this circumspection, the Apostle suggests,
III.
Motives and inducements to maintain it—
He recommends it,
1. As a proof of wisdom—
[No greater folly can be conceived than for persons to be regardless of their eternal interests, and to trifle away that time which they ought to be employing in the concerns of their souls. It is true, that a circumspect walk, and a due improvement of time, are often called preciseness or enthusiasm: but let those who know not the value of the soul, deride these things: still, in the judgment of every discerning person, to walk with the greatest possible care and exactness, is to “walk, not as fools, but as wise:” for “the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil, that is understanding [Note: Job 28:28.].”]
2. As a mean of safety—
[“The days” of the Apostles were “evil,” on account of the persecutions that raged: for every person felt that all his comforts might be speedily withdrawn, and that he might soon fall a sacrifice to his profession. This therefore was urged as a reason for vigilance and circumspection: for if they might so quickly be called to give up their account to God, it became them to be ever on their guard, and ever ready. Our lot, through the tender mercy of our God, is cast on happier days: we are not exposed to the fury of persecutors: the utmost that we suffer, is, for the most part, a little contempt, and the loss of some temporal interests. Still however our “days” may justly be called “evil,” because of the general prevalence of infidelity and profaneness [Note: If there be war, famine, pestilence, or any other public calamity, it might be mentioned here.]. We are as liable to be ensnared by evil examples, as those at Ephesus were to be turned aside by the fear of man. “Iniquity abounds; and therefore there is danger lest the love of many should wax cold.” If then we would not be drawn into the vortex of corruption, we should keep at a distance from it; and if we would stand in the day of trial, we should improve each passing hour in preparation for it.]