God has entrusted us to live as faithful stewards. Stewardship is the responsibility to manage what belongs to God with authority and accountability. As people created in His image (Imago Dei), we are entrusted to steward His creation through procreation and vocation, managing our time, talent, treasure, and testimony for His glory.
Time is a precious gift from God. Unlike other resources, it is not renewable. Performance coach Michael Altshuler said, “The bad news is time flies. The good news is you’re the pilot.” We are responsible for how we use this gift. Either we control our time, or someone else will. Paul addresses this in Ephesians 5:15-17, urging believers to live wisely and purposefully. He writes, “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.”
Paul begins by urging believers to “look carefully” at how they live. This isn’t a call to cautious or fearful living but to intentionality and godly wisdom. Proverbs 9:10 reminds us that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” A reverent awe of God shapes how we value and spend our time. What we do with our time reflects what we value. As stewards, we must align our priorities with God’s. Walking carefully means avoiding careless living and using wisdom to honor God with our time.
Paul continues, “making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” The phrase “making the best use” can also be translated as “redeeming the time.” Redeeming time means treating it as valuable and using it for eternal purposes like sharing the Gospel, serving others, and growing in Christlikeness. We must be intentional in a world filled with distractions and moral decay. Charles Spurgeon once said, “Let us not glide through life. Let us redeem the time with great seriousness.” How we invest our time reflects our eternal priorities.
Finally, Paul exhorts us to “understand what the will of the Lord is.” Wisdom involves applying God’s truth to daily decisions. Jesus reminds us in Matthew 6:33 to “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.” Prioritizing God shapes our schedules and decisions. Dallas Willard warned, “Busyness does not mean you are effective in God’s Kingdom. God’s will should drive your days.” To live wisely, we must discern God’s will and align our time with His purposes.
There are more than a few ways we can wisely steward our time. For one, we can prioritize time with God. We should regularly spend time in Scripture, prayer, and worship. Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still, and know that I am God.” Jesus modeled this by withdrawing to pray, even during His busiest moments (Mark 1:35). We can practice rest. Rest is not a luxury but an act of trust in God. Observing rest honors Him and restores us (Exodus 20:8-10). Jesus Himself rested during a storm, modeling trust in the Father (Mark 4:38). Then, we ought to live intentionally. Evaluate your schedule in light of God’s mission. Ask, “Does this honor God?” and prioritize what draws you and others closer to Him.
Psalm 90:12 offers a fitting prayer: “Teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” It reminds us of life’s brevity and calls us to live intentionally, focusing on what matters for eternity. Consider taking some time to audit your time. Keep what aligns with God’s will and eliminate distractions. Steward your time wisely, glorifying God in every moment and living with eternal purpose. After all, we only have today. Yesterday is a cashed check. Tomorrow, a promissory note. Today, it is a gift. Use it wisely. Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)!