Redeeming the Time by J. N. Andrews

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 8, 1865

Redeeming the Time.

By J. N. Andrews

“Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.” Col. iv, 5.

This language implies that the time spent with those who walk according to the spirit of this world, is liable to be wasted and lost. It also implies that it may be redeemed, i. e., that it need not, and should not be spent in vain. Those who pray with the Psalmist, “So teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom,” [Ps. xc, 12], will appreciate the importance of this exhortation of the apostle. Those who number their days in this manner, will have ever present before their minds, the fact that at the longest, their time is short, and even this may not all be theirs. They will consider that great work which true wisdom sets before mankind, viz., the service of the Redeemer, and the preparation for the judgment, and as they appreciate its true character, will feel that they have no time to lose if they would have the Judge say to them in the last day, “well done good and FAITHFUL servant.”

We are necessarily brought into connection, to a considerable extent, with those who are not the servants of Christ. Many of our relatives and personal friends are of this class. The necessary business transactions of this life, also make it unavoidable that we should, to a greater or less extent spend our time in the company of the men of this world. Providential events also bring this about in many ways.

We must conclude, therefore, that the people of God are to a certain extent, not only under the necessity of mingling with the men of this world, but that the Lord, whose wise providence controls all things, has a direct design that they should do this. “Ye are the light of the world,” says Christ. “A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven.” Matt. v, 14–16. The people of God, are therefore to be the means of good to those with whom they mingle. They are to recommend the holy religion which they profess not only by speaking of its merits to those who come in contact with them, but by doing those things which it enjoins. This is the way that our light will so shine that others may see our good works and glorify our Father in Heaven.

The people of God are, in his providence, scattered every where through the world for the very purpose that they may be the means of good to those who know not God. They are not therefore to hide away from all society, and to mingle only with those who are in the way to eternal life. Yet it must be confessed that in this very thing there is great danger. Unless we “walk in wisdom toward them that are without,” our time spent in their society will be wasted, perhaps worse than wasted.

1. We must watch unto prayer while in the society of those who have none of that spirit. The less in those around us the more need of it in ourselves.

2. We must so conduct ourselves that we may not disgust our fellow-men with oddities, with rash zeal, or with a spirit of fanatical intolerance. “He that winneth souls is wise.”

3. Our transactions must be such as will bear examination in the day of judgment. We cannot in a single act overreach our fellow-men without endangering our own souls and theirs also. For they will discern the first departure from right in ourselves, whatever may be the wickedness of their own conduct, and if they see a lack of integrity in us, they will charge it to our religion, and then blaspheme God on our account.

4. We should aim to do good to all our unconverted associates. Remember that they are in the way to perdition. The responsibility of lighting their path that they may see where they are going, is laid on us, what an awful responsibility it is. To mingle with others so that we can do them good, we must ourselves be deeply imbued with the Holy Spirit.

The time we spend with our fellow-men may be redeemed from waste, and may be made profitable to our own souls and the means of salvation in some cases to them. That we may then walk in wisdom toward them that are without, let us heed the next verse: “Let your speech be always with grace seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” J. N. ANDREWS.