21 Days to Finding Eternal Purpose in Your Daily WorkIsampula

In the first fourteen days of this plan, we answered two fundamental questions: What is the biblical narrative of work? And how specifically does our work matter in light of that narrative?

In the final seven days of this plan, we will answer a third question: How should we work in light of our enhanced understanding of how our work matters? The answers to this question are nearly endless, but we will examine seven of Scripture’s most significant answers over the next seven days, starting with today’s passage.

After expounding upon the gospel in Ephesians 1-4, Paul reminds us of our status as “dearly loved children” of God in Ephesians 5:1. What is our response to the gospel? Paul says part of our response is to “[make] the most of every opportunity.” I prefer how the NKJV translates the phrase as “redeeming the time.”

The Greek word exagorazó, which we translate to mean “redeeming,” in “redeeming the time” literally means to “buy up” or “ransom.” Because our work matters, we are called to “buy up” as much time as possible. In the words of pastor Tim Keller, “Time-stewardship is a command!”

Good time management isn’t “unspiritual.” It is a proper response to the gospel! As we’ve seen in this series, God is at work in the world and he has invited us to participate in that work through our vocations. With that in mind, let us be “time redeemers” who are intentional about making the most of this short life for our Father’s great glory.