EPHESIANS 5:16

“making the most of your time, because the days are evil.”

Just look at the news today! Evil is abounding across our globe. Terrorists are trying to kill innocent people. Human trafficking is a global business. There is still slavery in parts of the world. What are we to do? How do Christians live in such demeaning environments?

Paul tells us in today’s verse. We are to make “the most of your time.” The Greek word he uses for “making the most” is exagorazó. It means “seizing a buying-opportunity, i.e. making the most of the present opportunity (recognizing its future gain).” (HELPS Word Studies). In other words, we don’t have a minute to spare. Every hour is precious eternally. We can’t, as my grandma used to say, lollygag.

APPLICATION

This word exagorazóis only used four times in the New Testament. Paul uses it here and in Galatians 3:13; 4:5 and Colossians 4:5. Let’s take a look at these other passages today. In Galatians 3:13, Paul writes, “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written: ‘CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE’”. Using the definition above, Christ didn’t waste any time saving us from the Law.

We see in Galatians 4:4-5 “4 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, 5 so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons and daughters.” God knew the exact time to redeem us. He sent His Son, Jesus, because He saw the future gain – our salvation and eternity with our Creator.

And finally, in Colossians 4:5 we see it used similarly as today’s verse. “Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity.” In this verse, we are told how to behave, how to live toward outsiders or unbelievers. Listen, the world has been evil since the fall of man in the garden. We shouldn’t expect anything different. But we can live differently. To borrow an old Latin term Carpe Diem, seize the day. Make the most of your time for the sake of Christ.

Lord, help me make the most of my days so that I can be a light in a dark world.