Ephesians 5:16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. First: In the duty there is the act and the object. Both must be explained. 1. The act, buying; or, as we render it, "redeeming." Well, then, what is the meaning of "redeeming the time," or buying the time? The term is proper to civil contracts, but is here applied morally. (1) In buying there is some price paid; we part with one thing to obtain another; so we must part with anything less than it rather than lose time; as Proverbs 23:23, "Buy the truth, and sell it not." As merchants stand upon no rate or price if they may get such wares into their hands as they may make benefit of, so time is such a precious commodity, and so useful to us in order to eternity, that we should not stand upon ease, carnal pleasures, and worldly conveniences, that we may purchase it. (2) That which is bought belongeth to the buyer; and so buy time to make it your own for spiritual advantages. But our translation useth the word "redeem," which implieth another metaphor — namely, the recovery of a mortgage, or the redeeming of what hath been lost or pawned out; and so it noteth our former improvident misspence of time. We have, as it were, mortgaged it to Satan, to the world, and to vanity, and now should redeem it out of the hands of these engrossers, and by future diligence recover our former neglect. 2. The object — "the time." The word properly signifieth the season and opportunity, but yet it is the usual word for time in Scripture, for to a Christian all time is season. Time in general is but short: "But this I say, brethren, the time is short" (1 Corinthians 7:29). But the season or opportunity, which is the flower of time, is shorter; therefore this must not be slipped: "As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men" (Galatians 6:10).Secondly: The reason by which this duty is enforced — "Because the days are evil." 1. For the meaning of the phrase. (1) It may be understood of the whole course or race of man's life: (Genesis 47:9). Time in itself is neither good nor evil, but in regard of the accidents of time, as it is encumbered with variety of vexations, cares, and miseries, so our days may be called evil. And in this sense we must take that of our Saviour (Matthew 6:34). Every day bringeth evil enough and sorrow enough to exercise us. Therefore you had need to lay up for a better life, for you have but sorry evil days here. (2) More properly and specially it relateth to the times the apostle wrote in, which were hard and calamitous, and full of danger, because of the wickedness of those among whom they lived. There were many enemies then, both to Christian verity and piety. 2. The force of the consequence. (1)Because others vainly misspend time, Christians should be more careful to redeem it. The worse the times are, the better should we be, as fountain water is hottest in the coldest weather, and stars shine brightest in the darkest night. (2) Adversity makes men serious. (3) With relation to the heathen among whom they lived, he advised them to redeem the time (Colossians 4:5). (4) Some are so bad and froward, that they would take away liberty, estates, yea, life itself from you, and with it all occasions of doing and receiving good. You carry your own lives in your hands, and the lives of many of God's precious instruments are in danger; and therefore, before means and opportunities be wholly lost, redeem the time. That it is the duty of Christians to look to the due improvement of the time and season. I shall draw out the force of the apostle's exhortation in this method. I. The commodity or thing to be bought. The word signifieth time and season, the general and particular opportunity. 1. Time. (1) If you have not begun already by conversion, it must not be delayed and left to uncertainties. The sooner you begin to buy time, the better bargain you will have; for every man would have as much for his money as possibly he can, therefore take the market while it is at the best (Ecclesiastes 12:1). (2) After you are once admitted into the evangelical estate, your whole time should be redeemed and spent for God (Luke 1:75; Romans 6:10). 2. The season: buy it, whatever it cost you. The season of receiving good and of doing good. II. The use we must put it to when we have gotten this commodity into our hands. It is a precious commodity; you should never let it go but for something better than itself. There are two great ends, the glorifying of God, and the saving of our own souls. Thirdly: I shall now proceed to the encouragements to the bargain to redeem time and season. First: Let me press you to redeem the time. 1. Too much time hath been spent already (1 Peter 4:3). 2. We are to be accountable to God for time. 3. That time is only yours which is spent well, in pleasing God, and doing good; for that time is bought and redeemed which otherwise is lost to you. We lose all that time which is not spent in the love and service of God. 4. Time is not ours to dispose of at pleasure. A Christian, when he giveth up himself to God, he giveth up everything that is his to God. My time is not mine, but Christ's. It is sacrilege to rob God of what is consecrated to Him. 5. Time is a precious commodity, worth the looking after. The devil values it; if he can cheat you of your time, he can cheat you of your souls; for when conviction is strong, and all your prejudices are borne down, and his outworks taken, excuses and self-flatteries vanish. The last thing that he is loath to let go is time; his game is to cheat you of today, and so of the next day. God saith, "Today" (Hebrews 3:13); and the devil saith, Not today, but at a more convenient season; as Felix put off Paul (Acts 24:25). 6. The present time is the best: "I made haste, and delayed not to keep Thy commandments" (Psalm 119:60). Ludovicus Cappellus telleth us of a Jewish rabbin, who being asked when a man should repent, answered, One day before his death; that is, presently, this day; it may be your last in the world: "Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation" (2 Corinthians 6:2). 7. You have no time bug what may be serviceable for some good use. There is no time wherein thou dost not enjoy some blessing to provoke thee to thankfulness, or hast not some sin to be mortified, or some good work to be done. We have a great deal of work to do in a short time. 8. We have much work to do, therefore let us spend it in matters that most concern us. We all complain of the shortness of time, and yet everyone hath more time than he useth well. We should rather complain of the loss of time than the want of time. In the general, use time well. If it be short, do not make it shorter by your negligence and improvident misspending of it. A thing that is hired for a while, it is a loss to us if it be not used and employed; as a horse that is bargained for if he be kept idle, or money taken up at interest. So it is with time lent us by God for a while; we pay dear for it if we use it not, and improve it not for God. It is good to see what advantage we make of time daily. One could say when he heard the clock strike, Now I have another hour to answer for. 9. The slight price we are to give for time. You part with nothing but what is better lost than kept; with a little ease of the flesh, vain pleasure which passeth away as the wind, a little worldly profit, which at death will be of no use to thee. Now these are of no worth in comparison of time. 10. The necessity should quicken us, because there are many things which are apt to steal away and engross our time, and therefore must be redeemed; as — (1) Sloth and idleness. (2) Vain and sinful pleasures, and carnal sports. (3) Worldly distractions. (4) Vain company; they steal a jewel from us they can never restore, which is our precious time.Secondly: Why we must redeem the season. 1. Because all things are beautiful in their season. It is said that the good man "is like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season" (Psalm 1:3). Now, fruit in its season is a carriage answerable to all providences (Matthew 9:15). 2. Because the season may soon slip out of our hands (Galatians 6:10). Take and seek all occasions of doing good. To take the season relates to the necessities of others; to seek the season relates to our own capacity and ability; both together bind the duty stronger on us. We must not defer a benefit. Some are like hogs, good for nothing till they are dead; they will not part with anything till they are incapable of the use of it any longer. So for exhorting (Hebrews 3:13). So for serving public good (Acts 13:36). They that mind to do good in the world engage themselves in a warfare, and the loss of our season is no small part of the enemy's conquest. 3. This is wisdom. Some are wise in time, others too late; as the foolish virgins; they saw a necessity of getting oil into their vessels, but it was too late (Matthew 25:10). But the godly make much of time before it is lost. 4. The foresight and provision of the creatures may shame us. God will not only teach careless men by His prophets and messengers, but by His creatures. There is a great deal of morality lieth hid in the bosom of nature if we had the skill to find it out. In this business of redeeming the time we are sent to the pismire (Proverbs 6:6-8). 5. Most of the calamities of the world come for not observing and improving the season (Ecclesiastes 8:6). I. Reproof of several sorts of men. 1. Of them that wilfully spend their time vainly, either in doing nothing, or doing what they should not, or in doing evil. 2. It reproveth them that delay their conversion and return to God; as those invited to the marriage supper did not deny, but delay (Matthew 22). 3. Reproof to fallen believers, who do not take the next advantage of recovering themselves by repentance. The longer sin continueth unmortified or unpardoned, the more dangerous is your case. A candle, as soon as the flame is blown out, sucketh light and is re-enkindled; but when it is grown cold and stiff, it requireth more ado. 4. It reproveth those that withstand the special seasons of grace, when God's arms are most open to receive us. (T. Manton, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. |
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