Make the most of your time.

"So be careful how you live. Don't live like fools, but like those who are wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil." (Ephesians 5:15-16)

In these short verses, we find two precious pieces of advice: live wisely and make the most of your time! The first point warns us of the need to gain wisdom, that is, prudence or diligence, and this comes from God to us. It is the Lord who helps us develop multiple intelligences with wisdom, and with the ability to make creative connections to grow and serve in love.

The second recommendation is directly related to time. It refers to every opportunity that arises in life. Unfortunately, we waste a lot of time without benefiting ourselves, others, and especially God's kingdom.

Some Bible translations of verse 16 contain the expression "redeeming the time." This refers to the need to "redeem" or "buy back" the lost time. Just as Jesus did with us, we too must pay the price to free our time from the evil powers that are enslaving the world. Seek God's wisdom now to manage your time!

Redeem your time with diligence

• Read James 1:5, 3:17, and Ecclesiastes 3:1-7.

• Reflect and evaluate how and where you "lose" the most time during your day. Take note and be careful!

• Don't waste time on trivial things!

• Rescue the time lost in front of screens, on social media, and with other meaningless distractions.

• Do something useful for God and society. Study, work, learn a new language, play an instrument, learn a trade, volunteer, get involved in God’s work, keep moving forward!

• Reprogram yourself and be intentional, becoming aware of where you invest your time.

To pray:

Lord God, help me to live wisely, making better use of my time. Teach me to be wise like Jesus, to live more productively for your glory. Help me not to waste such precious time on things of no value. Teach me to look to Jesus and learn from Him how to make the best use of the time you’ve given me to fulfill your will. Holy Spirit, please help me and show me when I am wasting time on things that don’t matter. Help me redeem my time to use it in the best way, serving you and adding good things to this world, Father. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen!