EPHESIANS 5vv15-17

Walk circumspectly                 Chapter 5v15-17

1. How a change of worldview should result in a change of lifestyle individually.

The issue here is the wise use of our time..."redeeming the time because the days are evil."   Time is a precious commodity, the world at large knows it, coining the phrase "time is money."   There are endless courses on how to manage time for the best outcome.   Every mother knows it, every businessman, every student, every sportsman, everyone is conscious of the importance of time management.   The bible has much to say about it and advises the proper use of it.   Moses, who wrote Psalm 90, spoke of the brevity of time in the context of a God who is eternal, and therefore outside of time.   His point is that, we creatures, who are bound by time should make the best use of it.   He spoke of "the days of our years" being 70 years, and perhaps by reason of strength, 80 years.   He says "So teach us to number our days and apply our hearts unto wisdom."   Job, who was said by God to be the most upright man of his day, who was also successful in business and a good family man, yet who lost everything, and everyone precious to him wrote about the realities of life, when he said "Man that is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble.   He cometh forth as a flower and is cut down, he fleeth also as a shadow and continueth not"  Job 14vv1-2.   The apostle James wrote these now famous words..."For what is your life? It is even as a vapour that appeareth for a little time then vanisheth away"  James 4v14.   We all have 24 hours in each day, but for all of us time will end, and so the precious, fleeting, gift must be used to the maximum while here.

The point of the text is TIME STEWARDSHIP.   Jesus spoke to His disciples of "12 hours in a day"(John 11v9).   He was surely speaking of the hours of opportunity in an average day to accomplish anything.   The fact is all of us have an allotted timespan on this earth, some more, some less, and all of us will give account of our stewardship to God.   As believers in Christ we should be keenly aware of good time management, Paul says "...redeeming the time because the days are evil...";   there are some very interesting observations to be made here.

• Redeeming      Exagorazo    to buy up, to rescue from loss.   The imagery is of the merchantman who knows the value of his product, and who seizes every opportunity to maximise benefit to himself.   We are to have a business-like approach to our use of time.   Responsibility and proper management is in view.
• the time         Kairos            literally the opportunity;   there are two words for time in the Greek, chronos and Kairos.   Chronos refers to seconds minutes and hours, the onward passage of time.   The word used here refers to the windows of opportunity that present themselves in life.   Farmers are keenly aware of this, as are all business people.   There are only certain times in a lifespan when these come, and if missed, are often disastrous.   Timing is everything, when we do something can be important.   We may lose health and with it opportunity;   we may lose wealth and therefore ability to help others;   we may lose sanity and therefore ability to communicate.   Scripture says "there is a time for everything under the sun."   The Wisdom book of proverbs says in chapter 21v5 "THE THOUGHTS OF THE DILIGENT TENDETH ONLY TO PLENTEOUSNESS."   We are expected to be diligent in the things of the Lord and acquire the riches that can benefit others.   The same book points us to the busy and wise ant of which  is said "Consider her ways and be wise;   which having no guide, overseer or ruler, provideth her meat IN THE SUMMER, and gathereth her food  IN THE HARVEST."  Proverbs 6v6-8.
• because the days are evil        The need of the world is vast;   by the wise use of our time we can shine as lights in the darkness and bring God's blessing to many and in a variety of ways.  We have given the ability to show goodness in a world of evil. to shine as lights in a world of darkness, to demonstrate truth in a world of lies, to display righteousness in a world of injustice.   The days are always evil, this age, particularly, is described as an evil age, because it commenced with the high treason murder of the Son of God.   Best use of our time in that context is vital. 

This will involve a thorough understanding of the things of God, which involves reading of the bible;   it also involves prayerful consideration of the will of the Lord for my life, which means much time spent with Him... in Paul's words "understanding what the will of the Lord is."   Only thus will we be useful to Him to meet the needs of an evil world.   The scriptures contain historical narrative writings, prophetic writings, and also wisdom literature.   The wisdom writings contain instructions for wise living.   In our unconverted state we were foolish(God's words not mine), now we are saved we are to develop true wisdom in all we are, and in all our associations, and this is at the very heart of walking circumspectly.