Redeeming the Time
Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that deepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. ” Ephesians. 5:14-16
When God created man and put him into the Garden of Eden, He gave him something to do. He was not given a tennis racket, a football or a baseball bat and told to go and have a good time and get some exercise to keep himself fit. “And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the Garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.” Gen. 2:15. Another task that was given to Adam was that, after God had created all the animals, He “Brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.” Gen. 2:19. “It was the design of God that man should find happiness in the employment of tending the things He had created, and that his wants should be met with the fruits of the trees of the garden.” RH 07-25-71
“The Lord’s purposes are not the purposes of men. He did not design that men should live in idleness. In the beginning He created man a gentleman; but though rich in all that the Owner of the universe could supply, Adam was not to be idle. No sooner was he created than his work was given him.” CT 274.
There was no change after man fell into sin and was cast out of Eden, only there would be more hindrances to his work. “Cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shall thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall bring forth to thee; and thou shall eat the herb of the field. In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it was thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.” Gen. 3:17-19. Nowhere is it written that you shall work eight hours, play for five and then get a good night’s sleep. In fact, playing was not known during those times. There was much work to do. In order to make a household run efficiently, most of the waking hours were needed to do work.
Even if you go back only about 150 years ago, most of the day was spent in work. If children were privileged to attend school, upon returning home they had many chores to perform before nightfall, at which time they did their homework before retiring to bed.
Today we have many modern inventions that make our lives easier. We need less time to cook, to clean our homes, wash our clothing and do our yard work. Much more time could be used in spiritual pursuits in this enlightened age, where the Bible is so widely distributed. The light of the truth is shining so brilliantly from the Word of God, and people have much time for study however, “There is a way that seemeth right to a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Pro. 16:25. People think they can be good citizens without church and Bible reading, but they are often living only for themselves, with no thought of others in need.
REDEEMING THE TIME
There are two evils in our day regarding time. First there is the waste of time in idleness and secondly there is the active but incorrect use of time. Both of these we will examine in this article.
With all this extra time it is much more important in this day and age to take careful thought on redeeming our time. Redeeming our time consists of using it wisely; making the most of every opportunity. Also taking advantage of every moment in time for great and noble purposes. This is the obligation and privilege of every Christian.
Redeeming the time means more than simply refraining from idleness or frivolous activities. A person is not good merely because he is not bad. Like Jesus he must be going about his “Father’s business”. He must be actively seeking opportunities to do good even to one’s enemies.
Has the crime level decreased in this enlightened age that we live in? We call the time 500 years ago, the Middle Ages or also the Dark Ages. Why was it considered dark? There was very little of the Bible available and there were seemingly many sordid crimes committed. Is it any better today? We are, as I mentioned earlier, in an enlightened age. We have the Bible; we have modern technology; we have more hygienic conditions; we are living longer. No, in reality, the condition of man has deteriorated in the eyes of God. Crime has increased. Today it is as in the days “before the flood,” when, “they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noe entered into the Ark.” Mat. 24:38. No work is mentioned here so they were not busy working. On the contrary they had too much time on their hands and were not channelling their energies in the right direction. Life was one pleasure party in their eyes.
SODOM
The same was true with the days of Lot. “Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.” Luke 17:28-30. From this verse it seems they were participating in useful occupations, they planted, they builded, they bought and sold. It seems like honest work. However here is another form of idolatry. Some people over-work. They work seven days a week, from morning until night and have no time for spiritual pursuits. Man needs a balance in his life. We are told to work six days. Not seven and not four or five. Six days we are to work and rest on one. That is God’s ideal.
Lot chose to live among them even though he was troubled by their sin. “For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds.” 2 Pet. 2:8. Unfortunately even though he was saved from destruction, he lost most of his family in the flames. What was their great sin in Sodom? What did their unlawful deeds consist of? Sodom was the “Fairest among the cities of the Jordan Valley… set in a plain which was ‘as the garden of the Lord’ in its fertility and beauty.” This could be compared, perhaps, to the Garden of Eden. “Here the luxuriant vegetation of the tropics flourished. Here was the home of the palm tree, the olive, and the vine; and flowers shed their fragrance throughout the year. Rich harvests clothed the fields, and flocks and herds covered the encircling hills. Art and commerce contributed to enrich the proud city of the plain. The treasures of the East adorned her palaces, and the caravans of the desert brought their stores of precious things to supply her marts of trade. With little thought or labour, every want of life could be supplied, and the whole year seemed one round of festivity.
“The profusion reigning everywhere gave birth to luxury and pride. Idleness and riches make the heart hard that has never been oppressed by want or burdened by sorrow. The love of pleasure was fostered by wealth and leisure, and the people gave themselves up to sensual indulgence.” PP 156.
Ezekiel describes it as thus: “Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fullness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good.” Ezk. 16:49,50.
Do we see any similarities to our time today? Are we really a more blessed and enlightened generation? We have modern technology that gives us more free time to do as we please, rather than having time to do only what is necessary for survival.
“There is nothing more desired among men than riches and leisure, and yet these gave birth to the sins that brought destruction upon the cities of the plain. Their useless, idle life made them a prey to Satan’s temptations, and they defaced the image of God, and became Satanic rather than divine, Idleness is the greatest curse that can fall upon man, for vice and crime follow in its train. It enfeebles the mind, perverts the understanding, and debases the soul. Satan lies in ambush, ready to destroy those who are unguarded, whose leisure gives him opportunity to insinuate himself under some attractive disguise. He is never more successful than when he comes to men in their idle hours.” PP 156,157.
To fill up idle hours, young people often spend hours in front of the TV where they learn many destructive habits. They now have time to dabble in drugs, time to waste in front of the Nintendos and computer games, time for teenagers to become pregnant, time to think up many other terrible crimes that they would not have had time for if they were kept busy with useful labour.
ANCIENT ISRAEL
While the nation of Israel was in Egypt, they were extremely busy as slaves and did not have very much time to commit crimes. They also had little time for spiritual pursuits. However when they were free, in the wilderness, they should have taken the opportunity of this extra time to redeem the time. When Moses was in the mountain for forty days, they could have been praying and drawing close to the Lord. Instead they became idle and started to look for something to do in the ways of the world. This is when they thought of idolatry. In the service of idols, there was much singing and dancing. There were the exciting pleasures to engage in to fill up their time.
The warning is given, “Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.” 1 Cor. 10:7. This is what happened in the wilderness when the Israelites made the golden calf. How soon they forgot the Lord’s goodness in delivering them from slavery. (Ex. 32:6)
RECREATION VS. AMUSEMENT
To fill up time, people have resorted to use their spare time in recreation and amusements. Their work just gets finished so quickly and perhaps there is nothing more to do. What shall they do? Rather than become a ‘couch potato’, they decide to get some exercise. It is good to keep your body in good physical condition and healthful exercise in the open air is important.
“It is a privilege and duty of Christians to seek to refresh their spirits and invigorate their bodies by innocent recreation, with the purpose of using their physical and mental powers to the glory of God. Our recreations should not be scenes of senseless mirth, taking the form of the nonsensical. We can conduct them in such a manner as will benefit and elevate those with whom we associate, and better qualify us and them to more successfully attend to the duties devolving upon us as Christians.” MYP 364.
Recreation and amusements are two different things. Recreation comes from the root word re-create, which implies to strengthen and build up. Amusement is simply for the sake of having fun – to create laughter.
It is a duty for us to engage in recreation that will build us up and better prepare us for our duties. Here is one difference between recreation and amusement. Recreation prepares us to better fulfil our duties. Amusements that tend to unfit us for the faithful performance of our duties in life are unacceptable, as they also tend to lessen the relish for the contemplation of God and heavenly things. If we come from our leisure time refreshed and closer to God, then it was good recreation. If we come and have less desire to spend time with God, we have not used our time properly.
The Christian life is often thought of as boring by those who do not have an experience with Christ. They see all the amusements that God condemns. Worldly people are laughing and seem to have a good time. Is there no happiness to be found in the service of God? “Christians should be the most cheerful and happy people that live.” MYP 363. How is this possible with the self-denying pathway that is the way of salvation? “God is love. Whoso dwelleth in God, dwelleth in love. All who have indeed become acquainted, by experimental knowledge, with the love and tender compassion of our Heavenly Father will impart light and joy wherever they may be,” MYP 363. To know Jesus as our personal Saviour. This is the answer – this is what brings true joy to a person’s life.
“Children who are under strict discipline at times have dissatisfied feelings. They will become impatient under restraint, and will wish to have their own way, and go and come as they please. Especially from the age of ten to eighteen, they will often feel that there would be no harm in going to picnics and other gatherings of young associates; yet their experienced parents can see danger. They are acquainted with the peculiar temperaments of their children and know the influence of these things upon their minds, and from a desire for their salvation keep them back from these exciting amusements.” IT, p. 391
Precious time is often wasted by young and old alike by simply gathering to have a ‘good time.’ They want to enjoy each other’s company and simply talk and laugh about nothing of importance. “We may deny Christ in our life by indulging love of ease or love of self, by jesting and joking, and by seeking the honour of the world.” IT 304.
In E. G. White’s day the youth were beginning to love the world. “It is an alarming fact that the love of the world predominates in the minds of the youth as a class. Many conduct themselves as if the precious hours of probation, while mercy lingers, were one grand holiday, and they were placed in the world merely for their own amusement, to be gratified with a continual round of excitement. They find their pleasures in the world, and in the things of the world, and are strangers to the Father and the graces of His Spirit. Many are reckless in their conversation. They choose to forget that by their words they are to be justified or condemned. God is dishonoured by the frivolity and the empty, vain talking and laughing that characterize the life of many of our youth…
“Satan makes special efforts to lead them to find happiness in worldly amusements, and to justify themselves by endeavouring to show that these amusements are harmless, innocent, and even important for health. He presents the path of holiness as difficult, while the paths of worldly pleasure are strewn with flowers.” MYP 367. We need to encourage our youth to turn away from the ways of the world if they have fallen in this way and warn them of the danger they are in.
COMPETITIVE SPORTS
There is much interest in society in what is called, competitive sports.. In these sporting activities there are two opposing sides consisting of a different number of people, depending on the sport. Each of these sides is striving for the mastery. Their goal is to win, to be a better team than their opponent. Other than the fact that, in the world, far too much money is wasted for professional sporting figures salaries, there is also danger that teenagers will idolize sporting figures and then desire to be just like them.
But what about innocent sporting competitions among friends? Here are a few quotes from the Spirit of Prophecy and you can make your own conclusions from what you read.
“There were some who were striving for the mastery, each trying to excel the other in the swift running of their bicycles. There was a spirit of strife and contention among them as to which should be the greatest. The spirit was similar to that manifested in the baseball games on the college ground. Said my Guide, ‘These things are an offence to God. Both near and afar off souls are perishing for the bread of life and the water of salvation.’ ” 8T 52.
“The public feeling is that manual labour is degrading, yet men may exert themselves as much as they choose at cricket, baseball, or in pugilistic contests, without being regarded as degraded. Satan is delighted when he sees human beings using then-physical and mental powers in that which does not educate, which is not useful, which does not help them to be a blessing to those who need their help. While the youth are becoming expert in games that are of no real value to themselves or to others, Satan is playing the game of life for their souls, taking from them the talents that God has given them, and placing in their stead his own evil attributes.” CT 274/275.
“A view of things was presented before me in which the students were playing games of tennis and cricket. Then I was given instruction regarding the character of these amusements. They were presented to me as a species of idolatry, like the idols of the nations.” CT 350.
“Diligent study is essential, and diligent hard work. Play is not essential…. What force of powers is put into your games of football and your other inventions after the way of the Gentiles – exercises which bless no one. Just put the same powers into exercise in doing useful labour, and would not your record be more pleasing to meet in the great day of God?” FE 228/229, “Some of the most popular amusements, such as football and ^boxing, have become schools of brutality. They are developing the same characteristics, as did the games of ancient Rome. The love of domination, the pride in mere brute force, the reckless disregard of life, are exerting upon the youth a power to demoralize that is appalling.” Ed 210.
“How much time is spent by intelligent human beings in horse racing, cricket matches, and ball playing! But will indulgence in these sports give men a desire to know truth and righteousness? Will it keep God in their thoughts? Will it lead them to inquire, How is it with my soul?V CT 456.
” ‘Be sober, be vigilant, [not in kicking football and in educating yourselves in the objectionable games which ought to make every Christian blush with mortification at the afterthoughts] * be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.’ ” FE 225.
You can make your own decisions, with much prayer, in the light of the truth that has been presented.
“Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.” Phil. 2:3. Is this possible to do while engaging in, competitive sports? Is it not the desire of each player often to win; to be better than his opponent? There is often a feeling of elation upon winning and a feeling of defeat upon losing. In the world there is clearly seen the elation and pride on the part of the victors over their opponents. Since these testimonies were written, men have invented other sporting activities and competitions. One must decide which are acceptable in the light of the Spirit of Prophecy. Just because it is not mentioned by name, may not make it acceptable.
SO WHAT IS ACCEPTABLE?
“Any amusement in which you can engage asking the blessing of God upon it in faith will not be dangerous. But any amusement which disqualifies you for secret prayer, for devotion at the altar of prayer, or for taking part in the prayer meeting, is not safe, but dangerous. CT 337
“It is right that we should choose such places as this grove for seasons of relaxation and recreation. But while we are here it is not to devote our attention to ourselves merely, and fritter away precious time in amusements which will encourage a disrelish for sacred things. We have not come here to indulge in jesting and joking, in foolish talk and senseless laughter. We here behold the beauties of nature. And what then? Shall we fall down and worship them? No, indeed.
But as we behold these works of nature we should let the mind be carried up higher, to nature’s God; let it be elevated to the Creator of the universe, and then adore the Creator who has made all these beautiful things for our benefit and happiness.” 2T 589
HOLIDAYS
“I saw that our holidays should not be spent in patterning after the world, yet they should not be passed by unnoticed, for this will bring dissatisfaction to our children. On these days when there is danger that our children will be exposed to evil influences and become corrupted by the pleasures and excitement of the world, let the parents study to get up something to take the place of these dangerous amusements. Give your children to understand that you have their good and happiness in view.
“Let several families living in a city or village unite and leave the occupations which have taxed them physically and mentally, and take an excursion into the country, to the side of a fine lake or to a nice grove, where the scenery of nature is beautiful. They should provide themselves with plain, hygienic food, the very best fruits and grains, and spread their table under the shade of some tree or under the canopy of heaven. The ride, the exercise, and the scenery will quicken the appetite, and they can enjoy a repast which kings might envy.
“On such occasions parents and children should feel free from care, labour, and perplexity. Parents should become children with their children, making everything as pleasant for them as possible. Let the whole day be given to recreation.
“Exercise in the open ah* for those whose employment has been within doors and sedentary will be beneficial to health. All who can should feel it a duty to pursue this course. Nothing will be lost, but much gained. They can return to their occupations with new life and new courage to engage in their labour with zeal, and they are better prepared to resist disease.” IT, 514,515.
USEFUL WORK
“..if any would not work, neither should he eat.” 2 Thess. 3:10. “Daily systematic labour should constitute the education of the youth.” 3T 159.
“It was God’s purpose to alleviate by toil the evil brought into the world by man’s disobedience. By toil the temptations of Satan might be made ineffectual and the tide of evil stayed. And though attended with anxiety, weariness, and pain, labour is still a source of happiness and development, and a safeguard against temptation. Its discipline places a check on self-indulgence and promotes industry, purity, and firmness. Thus it becomes a part of God’s great plan for our recovery from the Fall.” CT 274.
Manual labour is not degrading. This was God’s original plan and this is one of the best sources of recreation. This kind of recreation gives good exercise to the body while accomplishing something worthwhile in the process. There are plenty of ways to use recreation time for the glory of God, for example, if you like to take walks, then take a stack of tracts with you to put into people’s mail boxes. Offer to do some gardening for an elderly neighbour. There are many other ways we can seek to benefit others if we only think about it and pray to the Lord for wisdom. All should be done to the glory of God. “He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand.” Pro 10:4.
“God designs that all shall be workers. The toiling beast of burden answers the purpose of its creation better than does the indolent man. God is a constant worker. The angels are workers; they are ministers of God to the children of men. Those who look forward to a heaven of inactivity will be disappointed, for the economy of heaven provides no place for the gratification of indolence. But to the weary and heavy-laden rest is promised. It is the faithful servant who will be welcomed from his labours to the joy of his Lord. He will lay off his armour with rejoicing, and will forget the noise of battle in the glorious rest prepared for those who conquer through the cross of Calvary.” CT 280.
As mentioned before, there are two dangers that exist in regards to time. One is not using our time at all -being idle, and the other is being active, but incorrectly using our time.
NEEDFUL PRAYER
Often when we are in a hurry, the hour of prayer gets cut short. If we use our time wisely, prioritising our duties, prayer would appear high on our list. “Satan leads many to believe that prayer to God is useless and but a form. He well knows how needful are meditation and prayer to keep Christ’s followers aroused to resist his cunning and deception. By his devices he would divert the mind from these important exercises, that the soul may not lean for help upon the Mighty One and obtain strength from Him to resist his attacks.” IT 295.
‘TIME’ IS A TALENT
“Our time belongs to God. Every moment is His, and we are under the most solemn obligation to improve it to His glory. Of no talent He has given will He require a more strict account than of our time.
“The value of time is beyond computation. Christ regarded every moment as precious, and it is thus that we should regard it. Life is too short to be trifled away. We have but a few days of probation in which to prepare for eternity. We have no time to waste, no time to devote to selfish pleasure, no time for the indulgence of sin. It is now that we are to form characters for the future, immortal life. It is now that we are to prepare for the searching judgment…
“We are admonished to redeem the time. But time squandered can never be recovered. We cannot call back even one moment. The only way in which we can redeem our time is by making the most of that which remains, by being co-workers with God in His great plan of redemption.” COL 342.
“When these children decide for themselves to leave the pleasures of the world and become Christ’s disciples, what a burden is lifted from the hearts of careful, faithful parents!” IT 391
It is my wish and prayer that each one of us would seek to do God’s will and see the happiness and joy there is to be had in useful employment for the glory of God. There is much more joy than the amusements that this world offers. May God help us to seriously consider the time in which we live and use our time wisely.
AMEN