Redeeming the Time (Colossians #59)

Redeeming the Time

Text: Colossians 4:5

Redeeming the time is the opposite of wasting time

Idleness is God’s way of saying people have wasted their time. Idleness is one of the seductive evils of the world. A car that sits idle is burning fuel without doing anything.
Before you get too spiritual about this, stepping away and taking a break from work or labor is godly and good. The Lord worked 6 days and on the 7th He rested. Meaning, He didn’t work on day 7. So don’t say that if you’re not spending 24 hours a day, 7 days a week preaching the gospel then you’re wasting time. That’s not true, and that’s not true according to the Bible you say you believe. Now, with that said, most of you won’t fall into that category anyway, but the actual wasting of time is described a few times by God.
Proverbs 19:15 Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger. If a man won’t work he shouldn’t eat. That was said in the New Testament.
Ecclesiastes 10:18 By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.
Ezekiel 16:49 Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.
Proverbs 31:27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.

There is a little more explanation of redeeming the time in Ephesians 5:14-17. Redeeming the time means walking circumspectly because evil is on every side. It’s like setting up security cameras all around to keep an eye on valuable things and to keep an eye on places people traffic. But the security cameras aren’t the point, they’re there to protect the business. A Christian’s posture is not defensive, it is purposeful and on the offence. A Christian walks in the light. The point of Christianity is not to be a security camera and sit around and watch for evil, the point of Christianity is good works to the glory of God. Watching for evil will assist a Christian in the purpose God has for His people, but steering clear of trouble is NOT the point of Christianity. In Ephesians 5:17 Paul says you’ve been given the will of God, so let’s get to it.
Matthew 5:14-16 – Glory of God in the world is good works
Ephesians 2:10 – Purpose in Jesus Christ is good works
1 Timothy 3:1 – Pastoring is an example of a good work
2 Timothy 3:16-17 – Equipped for good works
Titus 1:16, 2:7-14, 3:1 – Titus is the book that says the most about good works – 2:8 sound speech, so no filthy language and jokes. When you try to say something good about church or the Lord the hearer thinks the Lord is cool with your filth and consequently their filth as well.
1 Peter 2:11-12 – Good testimony among men are good works
Hebrews 13:20-21