Buying Time

Paul addresses this same idea in Ephesians 5:15-16.  God has given each of us an exact amount of time to live for his honor and glory. This time is not primarily for personal gain or fulfillment. 

¹⁵ Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶ making the best use of the      time, because the days are evil. ESV

Respected commentator Peter O'Brien makes the following observation about this passage:

Paul again uses the key verb 'walk' in order to draw out the implications of what it is to live a life worthy of the calling you have received (Eph. 4:1), as he admonishes his readers to take great care in the conduct of their Christian lives... The adverb rendered carefully signifies something done accurately, precisely, or after close attention has been given. Together with the imperative 'watch' (look above) it indicates that this admonition regarding godly behavior is both important and urgent.

So now we have biblical motivation for how we are to use the time that God has given us. O'Brien goes on to say "that those who are wise will have a right attitude toward time... Believers will act wisely by snapping up every opportunity that comes."  

Making the best use of time carries the idea of buying time. It is drawn from the commercial language of the market place, hence the idea of buying time is to use it profitably. So for Christians, time is to be bought up to bring honor to God. 

This places organization in proper perspective. It is not enough to be organized so that we can be pleased with how well things are going.  Being on time for appointments and events is fine, but God is envisioning much more.  As the phrase "the days are evil" and the parallel passage in Colossians 4:5 indicate buying time is also to be done with an eye towards those who are "outside".  Since God's purpose in history is redemptive (2 Peter 3:9) it is appropriate for this to be the focus of his people as well. 

This idea of buying time is based upon the idea that time is a limited, irreplaceable commodity.  If you were going to purchase an automobile would you purchase the first car that you happened to see advertised on television regardless of its price or quality? Probably not. You would want to make sure that your purchase was a wise one that would be a good value for many years. The same principle should apply to your usage of time. Each moment of time is one that you want to buy up so that it will yield rich returns in God's kingdom.  If your time is well organized then you will have the opportunity to spend this time to demonstrate the goodness of God by serving others, including those who are lost.  

Time is a precious commodity given to each family so that honor may be brought to God.  So how do you buy up the opportunities (time) that God gives to you and your family?  Do you begin each day with an awareness that the hours that God provides to you are his?  Is your goal to get through the day smoothly, with as little distraction as possible, so that you can accomplish things that are only remotely connected to honoring God? In other words, do you think that having school will help your children get a good education so that one day they will get a good job so that one day they will be able to serve God with that job? While this is not a bad goal, God wants you to be more intimately aware of why he has given you the time for a particular day.

For example, consider the language that is used, the assignments that are given, and the struggles with sin that are confronted; in each case, is it your first desire to make the most of this specific opportunity, so that God is known, loved and honored? Do your daily plans include looking for redemptive opportunities that God may bring? Is God's sovereign control over the events of each day a conscious consideration, so that when things happen that are not part of your plan you ask how can you respond to God's plan? For example, your plan was an all day field trip to the state capital to begin studying for this year's mid-term elections. You had planned this event for weeks and you even scheduled an interview with your state representative.  God's plan was a flat tire and a sick child. You planned this day for weeks, God planned it from eternity. How do you think God wants you to respond?