THE MOTIVATION OF TIME
“See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:15, 16
It would be difficult to overestimate the value of our time. Understanding the brevity of life and the importance of using our time wisely serves to motivate us to be better stewards of our moments and days. It is foolish to live with little regard for how our time is being used. We are admonished to be “Redeeming the time.”
To redeem means “to buy up” or “buy back.” Investors sometimes buy up things that are considered to be of great value, such as real estate, gold, etc. We are commanded to buy up time. Time is extremely valuable. It is the commodity that we use in exchange for everything that we do. If we are going to read our Bible, spend time with our family, or get involved in serving the Savior, then it will require our time. Time, once it is gone, can never be recovered. If we lose our keys or misplace our wallet, they can be replaced. Such is not the case with our time. If time is wasted, it is gone forever and it cannot be retrieved.
With each passing day, our time becomes more limited, making it of increasing value. The older we are, the more conscious we become of this fact. Our yesterdays are now more numerous than our tomorrows. Therefore, we must take advantage and make full use of our time while we have it. We should think practically on how we might redeem our time, by evaluating how our time is spent. The Psalmist prayed, “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom” (Psalm 90:12). An excuse that is commonly used to justify negligence in spiritual service or devotion is the lack of time. In reality, we all have the same number of hours per day and days per week.
If God wants us to do something, the time is available to accomplish it. It is our duty to arrange our schedules in such a way that we have the time to do His will. We must recognize and overcome the temptation or tendency to procrastinate or postpone things that should be done immediately. Too much time may be spent on things of lesser importance; then we find that we have very little time for matters of greater value. We must continually assess our schedules and adjust our priorities, as we seek to be good stewards of our time. With God as our helper, we must be committed to using our time wisely.