Ephesians 5:15-21: a reflection

15Therefore watch carefully how you walk, not as unwise, but as wise, 16redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17Therefore, don’t be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18Don’t be drunken with wine, in which is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, 19speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs; singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; 20giving thanks always concerning all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; 21subjecting yourselves to one another in the fear of Christ.

Paul urges the believers to live wisely, and part of that wisdom is making good use of their time. Watch carefully how you walk, he says, not as unwise, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. To redeem the time is to make the most of it, to use it well rather than letting it slip away carelessly; and Paul urges this because the days are evil and short, our time limited and not to be wasted. He calls the believers to walk not carelessly but wisely, using their time for what is good, understanding the will of the Lord, giving thanks, living filled with the Spirit. Our time is a limited and precious thing, and Paul calls us to make wise use of it, to redeem it, rather than letting it drain away in careless or wasted living. To use our limited time well, for what truly matters, is part of living wisely.

Notice what Paul urges: to make wise use of our time, redeeming it, because our days are limited. He does not assume we have endless time to spend as we please; he says the days are evil, and calls us to redeem the time, to make the most of it. Time carelessly spent is time lost; time used wisely, for what is good, for the will of the Lord, is time redeemed. Paul calls the believers to walk carefully, wisely, not letting their limited time drain away in foolishness, but using it well. Our time is not endless; it is a limited and precious gift, and how we use it matters. To redeem the time is to hold it as precious, to use it for what truly matters rather than squandering it. The wise make good use of their days, aware that time is short. What we do with our limited time is part of walking wisely.

That is worth taking to heart, for we are called to make wise use of our limited time, redeeming it rather than letting it slip away. We can spend our time carelessly, as though it were endless, letting our days drain away in what does not matter; but Paul calls us to redeem the time, to make wise use of it, because our days are limited. Our time is a precious and limited gift, and how we use it matters. To use it well, for what truly matters, is part of living wisely. Do not spend your limited time carelessly, as though it were endless; redeem it, making wise use of it, as Paul urges. Make wise use of your limited time, redeeming it for what truly matters rather than letting it slip away carelessly, as Paul urges us to walk not as unwise but as wise, redeeming the time because the days are evil; for our time is not endless but a limited and precious gift, and how we use it matters, so that to hold our days as precious and use them well, for the will of the Lord and what truly matters, is part of walking wisely rather than squandering the time we are given.

Lord, Paul urges the believers to live wisely, and part of that wisdom is making good use of their time. Watch carefully how you walk, he says, not as unwise, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. To redeem the time is to make the most of it, to use it well rather than letting it slip away carelessly; and Paul urges this because the days are evil and short, our time limited and not to be wasted. He calls the believers to walk not carelessly but wisely, using their time for what is good, understanding your will, giving thanks. Our time is a limited and precious thing, and Paul calls us to make wise use of it. Show me what Paul urges: to make wise use of my time, redeeming it, because my days are limited. He does not assume I have endless time to spend as I please; he says the days are evil, and calls me to redeem the time. Time carelessly spent is time lost; time used wisely, for what is good, for your will, is time redeemed. Paul calls me to walk carefully, wisely, not letting my limited time drain away in foolishness. My time is not endless; it is a limited and precious gift, and how I use it matters. Take that to my heart, for I am called to make wise use of my limited time, redeeming it rather than letting it slip away. I can spend my time carelessly, as though it were endless, letting my days drain away in what does not matter; but Paul calls me to redeem the time. Keep me from spending my limited time carelessly, as though it were endless; help me redeem it, Lord, making wise use of it for your will and what truly matters, as Paul urges us to walk as wise, redeeming the time because the days are evil.