Ephesians 5:16

“redeeming the time, because the days are evil”

“Redeeming”: To ransom, rescue from loss, buy up. “Buying up opportunities” (Alf). “Making the most of every opportunity” (TCNT). “Make the best use of your time” (Phi). “Opportunities must be exploited while they last” (Bruce p. 379). “Certainly wise people know that time is. precious commodity. None of us can stretch time. But wise people use it to the fullest possible advantage. For once it has passed, even the wisest people cannot recover it. Somebody once advertised as follows: ‘LOST, yesterday, somewhere between sunrise and sunset, two golden hours, each set with sixty diamond minutes. No reward offered, for they are gone for ever'” (Stott p. 202). Procrastination is not the mark of walking wisely. Foolish people naively convince themselves, “Well there will be other times.” In contrast, wisdom is demonstrated by the prompt and discerning zeal to make every opportunity our own. “We say use the opportunity; Paul says buy it out. purchase all that it offers. That means: pay the necessary price in effort and exertion” (Lenski p. 614). One either "uses" opportunities or he "squanders" them, and opportunity is given to all (Galatians 6:10; Matthew 25:14; Colossians 4:5). “Because the days are evil”: “For these are evil days” (TCNT). “Despite all the difficulties of these days” (Phi) “This does not mean merely that the times are full of trouble and difficulty, but rather that they are morally corrupt. The obstacles in the way of Christian service are therefore great, and the opportunities of turning men to light are few, so there is an evident necessity for seizing upon every occasion which may appear” (Erdman p. 115). Often professed believers will use the excuse "evil so prevalent" in the world as the reason why they cannot serve God faithfully. “We should not develop. negative attitude; that is, the days are so evil there isn't much. can do about it” (Spiritual Sword Lectureship p. 197). The necessary inference is that opportunities to do good and even convert people are present even when the world is filled with evil! (Acts 18:10). What some people see as. "reason why they can't", Paul sees has an incentive why we must. Christians must be willing to wrestle all the opportunities they can away from this evil world. Caldwell reminds us, “After reading secular history and having examined the writings of Peter, John, and Paul,. conclude that our times are no less dangerous to Christians. Every admonition of Scripture is of equal force and urgency today. The call for wisdom to deal with life during evil days is as vital and current now as it was in the first century” (p. 245).