Redeeming the Time (Eph. 5:15-17)

A Homily for the Last Sunday of the Year

As we stand on the threshold of a new year, let me ask you to consider this: how would you live today if you knew this was your last year? It’s a weighty thought, isn’t it? The poet Harvey Mackay once wrote, “Time is free, but it’s priceless. You can’t own it, but you can use it. You can’t keep it, but you can spend it. Once you’ve lost it, you can never get it back.” Each moment of the past year has vanished like a vapor, and as we look to the year ahead, we must reckon with this reality: time is fleeting, but it can also be redeemed.

Paul, writing to the Ephesians, exhorts us:

“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is” (Ephesians 5:15-17).

In these few verses, Paul outlines a profound challenge for us: to live in such a way that our days are not wasted but invested in what truly matters. Today, as we look back on the year behind us and peer into the uncertainties of the year ahead, let us consider how we might redeem the time, living wisely in a world that often seeks to distract and consume us.

I. Reflecting on the Past: A Wise Retrospection

Paul begins with a call to wisdom: “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise” (v. 15). Wisdom, in Scripture, is more than intellect or cleverness; it is living in alignment with God’s purposes.

The first step in redeeming the time is taking a wise, honest inventory of the year past. How have we walked? Did we live in step with the Spirit, or were we swept along by the busyness of life? Have our days been marked by prayer, service, and devotion, or by distractions and misplaced priorities?

Here, Paul warns us: “The days are evil” (v. 16). Evil here does not merely refer to sinfulness but to the corruption and brokenness of the world we live in. This past year, we’ve seen it: wars, disasters, sickness, political strife, and personal heartache. Time, in a fallen world, is constantly under assault. Yet, amid all this, God has given us moments of grace—opportunities to sow seeds of eternal value. Have we made the most of those moments, or have they slipped through our fingers?

Let us not look back with despair or guilt, but with sober humility and gratitude, asking: “Lord, teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12).

II. Living in the Present: Seizing the Opportunity

Paul urges us to “make the best use of the time” (v. 16). The Greek phrase here means to “buy up” or “redeem” the time. It carries the image of a shrewd merchant, seizing every opportunity to purchase what is valuable. Time, like a treasure, must be purchased wisely.

But how? Let me suggest three ways we can seize the moments God gives us:

1. Prioritize the Eternal Over the Temporary

In a world that idolizes productivity and achievement, it is easy to prioritize what is urgent over what is eternal. Yet Jesus reminds us, “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness” (Matthew 6:33). Are we investing our time in what truly matters—our walk with God, our relationships, and the advancement of His Kingdom?

2. Walk by the Spirit

Paul’s call to redeem the time comes within the context of walking in the Spirit (Eph. 5:18). We cannot redeem the time by sheer willpower; we need the Spirit to guide us, convict us, and empower us to live in wisdom. Prayer, worship, and Scripture are the lifeblood of a Spirit-led life.

3. Serve Others with Gospel Intentionality

Time is redeemed not when it is hoarded, but when it is poured out in love. Paul writes earlier in this same chapter, “Walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us” (Eph. 5:2). How are we using our time to serve our families, our church, and our communities? Every act of love, no matter how small, carries eternal significance.

The present moment is all we truly have, and each moment is an opportunity to glorify God. “Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Colossians 3:17).

III. Facing the Future: Trusting God’s Will

Paul concludes with a challenge: “Do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is” (v. 17). As we look to the year ahead, uncertainty looms. None of us knows what tomorrow holds—whether it will bring triumph or trial, joy or sorrow.

Yet Paul’s words remind us that we are not adrift in a chaotic sea. God’s will is not hidden or arbitrary. It is revealed in His Word, in the gospel, and in the life of His Son. To redeem the time in the year ahead, we must anchor ourselves in His will.

Three truths will sustain us as we step into the future:

1. God is Sovereign Over Time

No matter what the year holds, we can rest in the assurance that “all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). God is not surprised by the events of our lives; He is orchestrating them for His glory and our ultimate good.

2. God is With Us in Every Moment

Jesus promised, “I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). As we enter a new year, we do so not alone, but in the presence of the One who holds time itself in His hands.

3. God’s Purpose Transcends Our Plans

James warns us not to boast about tomorrow, for we do not know what a day may bring (James 4:13-15). Instead, let us commit our plans to the Lord, trusting that His purposes are far greater than our own.

Conclusion: Walking Wisely into the New Year

As we close this year and begin another, let us heed Paul’s call: “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise.”

• Let us look back with humility and gratitude, learning from our mistakes and celebrating God’s faithfulness.

• Let us live now with urgency and intentionality, making the most of the moments God has given us.

• Let us step forward into the future with faith and confidence, trusting in the One who holds every moment in His hands.

Brothers and sisters, time is fleeting, but it is also redeemable. Let us resolve, as individuals and as a church, to live each moment for the glory of God. As we leave this year behind, may our hearts echo the words of Moses:

“Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!” (Psalm 90:17).

Amen.