"Redeem the time," Ephesians 5:15, is a scripture which puzzled me when I met it while a student in seminary. When we redeem something, we buy it back or win it back. We ought to do these things with the TIME given to us.
I taught a Psychology of Management course for Tinker Air Force Base in Midwest City, Oklahoma, and Air Personnel, motivated to succeed, were impressed with the challenge to use the 168 hours we have each week.
Compute the hours this way. Work 40 hours. Sleep 38 hours which should be about enough for most people. Enjoy 22 hours per week with the family and activities. Allow 10 hours for miscellaneous tasks.
What will a person do with the surplus 58 hours? Time management studies show that most Americans waste as much as 68 to 70 hours per week. They watch too much TV, play cards, have gossip sessions or sleep too much.
Too much wasted time can cause a person to feel negative to accomplishing something in life. It can cause one to feel depressed and feel like, "What's the use?"
Although wasted time and wasted years cannot be recaptured, we can redeem whatever time we have left.
We can live in the NOW, pursue good goals, and refuse to give up or be defeated. This attitude makes life more meaningful and more purposeful and can help a person not to waste the precious gift of life.
It is said that when a person dies, he can't take anything with him. However, theology has a correction of this mistake. The Apostle Paul tells us that people will KNOW in eternity. 1 Corinthians 13:12.
To KNOW requires a mind, and a mind that has knowledge. This means that a woman or man will take her or his knowledge to eternity. In other words, education is something you can take with you. This means that learning is not in vain.
I believe that a person should make the most of his or her life. Use all of the hours or years and do something worthwhile. No excuses!
No more wasting time, or a mind or a life. It is TIME to buckle down, go forward and REDEEM THE TIME, and put the 168 hours in each week to good use.
The choice is clear: USE IT OR LOSE IT!