How much time do you waste?  We all waste time.  No one is likely to deny this.  The question is, how much?  Paul tells us to be careful with our time.  He put it like this:

Ephesians 5:15-16 (ESV)
¹⁵ Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶ making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.

In the context of Ephesians 5, to walk wisely is to use our time in beneficial ways.  Our time here on earth is short and goes by very quickly, and the time we have is filled with evil things that take our attention away from God and the things He would have us do.  We must purposely use our time in a way that is good for the cause of Christ and the souls of men.

Notice Paul’s exhortation to look carefully at how we are walking.  This implies an examination of how we are using our time.  We can waste time without even realizing it.  How much time do you spend watching T.V. compared to the time you spend reading the Bible?  Does the time you spend tending to personal things far exceed the time you give to the Lord and His work?  We all spend more time engaging in things that pertain to this life than we do spiritual things.  That in itself is not wrong.  We do not have much of a choice.  Activities such as work, school, etc., take up the majority of hours in our days.  This makes it all the more critical to walk wisely when it comes to our time.

One thing we must do is understand the will of the Lord (Ephesians 5:17).  How can we be busy doing the Lord’s will if we do not know what it is?  Yes, we all know at least a part of the Lord’s will, but our knowledge should be ever-increasing.  Peter said that we should “…grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ…” (2 Peter 3:18).  The only way I know of doing this is by personal Bible study, which, of course, takes time.  Studying the Bible is a good way to spend our time.

Another way we can make the best use of our time is by “walking in wisdom toward outsiders.”  There are a few ways that we can do this.  First, we must make sure that we are living properly before them, that is, walking worthy of the gospel.  Peter said, “Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation” (1 Peter 2:12 (ESV).

His reference to Gentiles is simply referring to those who have not obeyed the gospel.  We must strive to be a good example to those who are not members of the Lord’s church so that we might have the opportunity to win them to Christ.  Living by the gospel, no matter whose presence we are in is always wise and a beneficial use of time.

Second, we make the best use of our time among those who are outsiders by striving to teach them about Christ.  There are very few things that we can do that are a better use of our time than preaching the gospel to those who are lost.

Let us all strive to walk wisely in Christ.  In doing so, not only will we save our own souls, but help others get to heaven also. 

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.