Not as Fools, Redeem The Time
Not as Fools – Redeem the Time
This is the biblical definition of a fool. “The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” (Psalm 53:1). Also it says, “And whoever spreads slander is a fool” (Proverbs 10:18). “To do evil is like sport to a fool” (Proverbs 10:23). “A fool has no delight in understanding, But in expressing his own heart” (Proverbs 18:2).
Apostle Paul referred to the Galatians as foolish. “O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified?” Note that Paul did not call them fools but foolish. We can occasionally act foolishly even as believers in Christ but that does not make us fools. It is therefore necessary that we know how fools act in order to be wise. Have you seen a fool or former fool? Look at the mirror. We were once fools because at some point in our lives we l said and lived as if “there is no God”. Now if you still do not have a relationship with God as Lord and Savior, you are still a fool. Sorry, the Scripture said so, not me.
The Holy Spirit thru Paul said to the Ephesian Church, “walk as wise and not fools”. Let’s listen to Paul:
15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another in the fear of God.[c]
Your concept of God determines how you walk and live. If there is no God, what do you care, nothing matters? If there is God and you know Him intimately then everything matters in God. Walk (live) “circumspectly”, meaning carefully, deliberately, considerately. We cannot do so when we are going 100 miles an hour in these day and age. It requires quieting down to think and reflect and consider. Some of us think there are 25 hours in a day and live as such. You think you are too busy and you can’t slow down? Then visit the hospitals and you will get wisdom to slow down.
We are to live “redeeming the time”. The idea here is taking advantage of every opportunity to bring glory to God and shine as His light. It is not so much about time management which is good but seeing God-opportunities in everything. We need to redeem time because the days are evil.
Sure the days are evil. Just watch the news. There are the Boko Harams, ISIS and other terrorist groups committing mayhem. There are things happening even in the most civilized and sanitized places, e.g. Ebola, killings even by children. In Seattle Washington three weeks ago, a teenager shot and killed four classmates including his cousins and then shot himself dead. Yes, the days are evil and they have been since sin invaded humanity thru Adam and Eve. You think you have a dysfunctional family? The first family was dysfunctional. Cain killed his brother Able. We all have dysfunctional families because all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. We need a Savior, Jesus Christ.
There are so many opportunities in these days we live with advanced technology. We must redeem it for God. Let’s not squander it chattering and posting nonsense on Facebook and Twitter and all social media. This is the day of salvation and we must use it for propagating the gospel. I have someone as Facebook friend who sends out a daily horoscope. I have written him to instead give people the Word of God because God knows and predicts the future and our lives are in his Hands not in the horoscope. Someone said, “We now have better smartphones and more dumb people using them”.
Let’s take advantage of the coming holidays for family reunions and reconciliations. Reach out to a family member you have never reached to before. You do not know how long you may have them or they may have you. Let’s not rehearse the old sins/hurts but forgive and move on for the glory of God. If someone in the extended family needs to be “called out”, let’s do so in love with redemption as the ultimate goal. Let’s redeem and restore people. That is what Jesus did for us.
Are you living out your greatest potential? You cannot until you and I live wisely as we “understand what the will of the Lord is”. The Lord has made His Will known in His Word, the Bible. Let’s read it with the help of the Holy Spirit and live it out, otherwise, we are foolish. Listen to Apostle James, “19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?” James 2:19-20. If we are not living out our faith, we are foolish and we are not redeeming the time. Can you give up some of your sitcom and football/soccer watching time? Redeem it for God’s glory.
Myles Munroe (a well-known preacher), his wife and seven others died three days ago in a plane crash. We pray comfort for their families. Here is what Munroe said about death. "The greatest goal is not to die old...but to die empty. When you die, die empty. That's how I'm planning to die!". He explained it as dying empty with nothing left you would have given to humanity from God. Like Jesus died saying, “It is finished”. Munroe may have accomplished that. It is not the longitude of your life that matters but the lasting effect, the legacy you leave behind. Not as fools but as wise. Let’s redeem the time. Are we pouring out our last drop for the Lord? Like Paul said, “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand” 2 Timothy 4:6.
Thanks for reading and acting. Please pray for me. I have to go now and redeem my time wisely.
This is the biblical definition of a fool. “The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” (Psalm 53:1). Also it says, “And whoever spreads slander is a fool” (Proverbs 10:18). “To do evil is like sport to a fool” (Proverbs 10:23). “A fool has no delight in understanding, But in expressing his own heart” (Proverbs 18:2).
Apostle Paul referred to the Galatians as foolish. “O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified?” Note that Paul did not call them fools but foolish. We can occasionally act foolishly even as believers in Christ but that does not make us fools. It is therefore necessary that we know how fools act in order to be wise. Have you seen a fool or former fool? Look at the mirror. We were once fools because at some point in our lives we l said and lived as if “there is no God”. Now if you still do not have a relationship with God as Lord and Savior, you are still a fool. Sorry, the Scripture said so, not me.
The Holy Spirit thru Paul said to the Ephesian Church, “walk as wise and not fools”. Let’s listen to Paul:
15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another in the fear of God.[c]
Your concept of God determines how you walk and live. If there is no God, what do you care, nothing matters? If there is God and you know Him intimately then everything matters in God. Walk (live) “circumspectly”, meaning carefully, deliberately, considerately. We cannot do so when we are going 100 miles an hour in these day and age. It requires quieting down to think and reflect and consider. Some of us think there are 25 hours in a day and live as such. You think you are too busy and you can’t slow down? Then visit the hospitals and you will get wisdom to slow down.
We are to live “redeeming the time”. The idea here is taking advantage of every opportunity to bring glory to God and shine as His light. It is not so much about time management which is good but seeing God-opportunities in everything. We need to redeem time because the days are evil.
Sure the days are evil. Just watch the news. There are the Boko Harams, ISIS and other terrorist groups committing mayhem. There are things happening even in the most civilized and sanitized places, e.g. Ebola, killings even by children. In Seattle Washington three weeks ago, a teenager shot and killed four classmates including his cousins and then shot himself dead. Yes, the days are evil and they have been since sin invaded humanity thru Adam and Eve. You think you have a dysfunctional family? The first family was dysfunctional. Cain killed his brother Able. We all have dysfunctional families because all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. We need a Savior, Jesus Christ.
There are so many opportunities in these days we live with advanced technology. We must redeem it for God. Let’s not squander it chattering and posting nonsense on Facebook and Twitter and all social media. This is the day of salvation and we must use it for propagating the gospel. I have someone as Facebook friend who sends out a daily horoscope. I have written him to instead give people the Word of God because God knows and predicts the future and our lives are in his Hands not in the horoscope. Someone said, “We now have better smartphones and more dumb people using them”.
Let’s take advantage of the coming holidays for family reunions and reconciliations. Reach out to a family member you have never reached to before. You do not know how long you may have them or they may have you. Let’s not rehearse the old sins/hurts but forgive and move on for the glory of God. If someone in the extended family needs to be “called out”, let’s do so in love with redemption as the ultimate goal. Let’s redeem and restore people. That is what Jesus did for us.
Are you living out your greatest potential? You cannot until you and I live wisely as we “understand what the will of the Lord is”. The Lord has made His Will known in His Word, the Bible. Let’s read it with the help of the Holy Spirit and live it out, otherwise, we are foolish. Listen to Apostle James, “19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?” James 2:19-20. If we are not living out our faith, we are foolish and we are not redeeming the time. Can you give up some of your sitcom and football/soccer watching time? Redeem it for God’s glory.
Myles Munroe (a well-known preacher), his wife and seven others died three days ago in a plane crash. We pray comfort for their families. Here is what Munroe said about death. "The greatest goal is not to die old...but to die empty. When you die, die empty. That's how I'm planning to die!". He explained it as dying empty with nothing left you would have given to humanity from God. Like Jesus died saying, “It is finished”. Munroe may have accomplished that. It is not the longitude of your life that matters but the lasting effect, the legacy you leave behind. Not as fools but as wise. Let’s redeem the time. Are we pouring out our last drop for the Lord? Like Paul said, “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand” 2 Timothy 4:6.
Thanks for reading and acting. Please pray for me. I have to go now and redeem my time wisely.
Comments