Making Up for Perceived Wasted Time in Faith
The concept of "redeeming the time" is a significant theme in Christian thought, particularly articulated in Ephesians 5:16, which exhorts believers to "redeem the time, because the days are evil" [1]. This phrase suggests a proactive and intentional approach to how one uses their time, especially in the context of spiritual growth and service. The Greek term for "redeeming the time" (ἐξαγοράζω τὸν καιρόν) implies "buying up for yourselves the seasonable time," seizing opportune moments for good in the midst of a world characterized by evil [8].
The idea of making up for perceived wasted time is not about literally recovering lost moments, but rather about maximizing present and future opportunities. John Calvin, a prominent Reformed theologian, emphasizes that believers are "renewed by that regeneration into the righteousness of God from which we had fallen" [7]. This renewal implies a transformation that enables a more purposeful use of time, aligning one's actions with God's will. The focus shifts from regret over past idleness to diligent engagement in present duties and spiritual disciplines.
Procrastination is explicitly condemned in scripture and theological tradition. Torrey's Topical Textbook notes that procrastination is "condemned by Christ" (Luke 9:59-62) and that "saints avoid" it (Psalm 119:60) [4]. The urgency of the present moment is highlighted, with passages like 2 Corinthians 6:2 stating, "Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation" [4]. This perspective underscores that opportunities for spiritual growth and service are time-sensitive and should not be deferred.
The pursuit of faith and good works is understood as a continuous process. a confessional catechism states that "to live, grow and persevere in the faith until the end we must nourish it with the word of God; we must beg the Lord to increase our faith; it must be 'working through charity,' abounding in hope, and strengthened by the sacraments of the Church" [9]. This implies that spiritual development is an ongoing endeavor, where past shortcomings can be addressed through renewed commitment and divine grace.
However, the ability to turn to God and make good use of time is not solely a human effort. Calvin argues against the "quibble, that there is nothing to hinder us from contributing our part, while God, at the same time, supplies our deficiencies" [6]. Instead, he asserts that the Lord Jesus directs hearts, implying that conversion and the subsequent ability to live faithfully are ultimately God's work [6]. Charles Hodge, another Reformed theologian, explains that the faith of a Christian is an "inward experience" enabled by the Holy Spirit, who illuminates the mind to apprehend divine truth [5, 10]. This suggests that while believers are called to be diligent, the capacity to do so effectively is a gift from God.
The concept of "redeeming the time" also involves discerning the appropriate season for various actions. Ecclesiastes 3:3-6 famously lists a series of contrasting activities, such as "a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to search and a time to count as lost, a time to keep and a time to discard" [2, 3]. This wisdom suggests that not all time is meant for the same activity, and part of redeeming time is understanding and acting according to the season.
Sources
- Ephesians “Ephesians 5:16 (Webster) — Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”
- Ecclesiastes “Ecclesiastes 3:6 (BSB) — a time to search and a time to count as lost, a time to keep and a time to discard,”
- Ecclesiastes “a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; -- Ecclesiastes 3:3”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Procrastination — Condemned by Christ -- Lu 9:59-62. Saints avoid -- Ps 27:8; 119:60. To be avoided in Hearkening to God. -- Ps 95:7,8; Heb 3:7,8. Seeking God. -- Isa 55:6. Glorifying God. -- Jer 13:16. Keeping God's commandments. -- Ps 119:60. Making offerings to God. -- Ex 22:29. Performance of vows. -- De 23:21; Ec 5:4. Motives for avoiding The present the accepted time. -- 2Co 6:2. The present the best time. -- Ec 12:1. The uncertainty of life. -- Pr 27:1. Danger of illustrated -- Mt 5:25; Lu 13:25. Exemplified Lot. -- Ge 19:16. Felix. -- Ac 24:25.”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 11: of research or argument, but of inward experience. The change may, and often does, take place in a moment. The faith of a Christian in the Bible is, as before remarked, analogous to that which all men have in the moral law, which they recognize not only as truth, but as having the authority of God. What the natural man perceives with regard to the moral law the renewed man is enabled to perceive in regard to “the things of the Spirit,” by the testimony of that Spirit with and by the truth to his heart. Proof from Express Declarations of S”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 41: the others have been voluntary agents in acting, if the Lord Jesus had not directed their hearts? 9. Some, who would be thought more acute, endeavour to evade all these passages, by the quibble, that there is nothing to hinder us from contributing our part, while God, at the same time, supplies our deficiencies. They, moreover, adduce passages from the Prophets, in which the work of our conversion seems to be shared between God and ourselves; “Turn ye unto me, saith the Lord of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the Lord of hos”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 58: the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, as by the Spirit of the Lord.” Again, “Be renewed in the spirit of your minds” and “put ye on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” Again, “Put ye on 516 the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him.” 310 310 2 Cor. 3:18 ; Eph. 4:23, 24 ; Col. 3:10 ; 2 Cor. 4:16 . Accordingly through the blessing of Christ we are renewed by that regeneration into the righteousness of God from which we had falle”
- Ephesians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ephesians 5:16: Redeeming the time-- (Col 4:5). Greek, "Buying up for yourselves the seasonable time" (whenever it occurs) of good to yourselves and to others. Buying off from the vanities of "them that are without" (Col 4:5), and of the "unwise" (here in Ephesians), the opportune time afforded to you for the work of God. In a narrower sense, special favorable seasons for good, occasionally presenting themselves, are referred to, of which believers ought diligently to avail themselves. This constitutes true "wisdom" (Eph 5:15). In a larger sense, the whole season f”
- Catechism of the Catholic Church (Catholic) “Catechism of the Catholic Church, CHAPTER THREE (part 6): anyone obtain eternal life 'But he who endures to the end.'"] Perseverance in faith 162 Faith is an entirely free gift that God makes to man. We can lose this priceless gift, as St. Paul indicated to St. Timothy: "Wage the good warfare, holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting conscience, certain persons have made shipwreck of their faith."44 To live, grow and persevere in the faith until the end we must nourish it with the word of God; we must beg the Lord to increase our faith;45 it must be "working through charity," aboundin”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 1, section 9: by God in His Word ( 1 Cor. ii. 10-16 ). It is not, therefore, a revelation of new truths, but an illumination of the mind, so that it apprehends the truth, excellence, and glory of things already revealed. And second, 16 This experience is depicted in the Word of God. The Bible gives us not only the facts concerning God, and Christ, ourselves, and our relations to our Maker and Redeemer, but also records the legitimate effects of those truths on the minds of believers. So that we cannot appeal to our own feelings or inward experience, as ”