Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.
To walk in wisdom toward those outside the faith means to live circumspectly before unbelievers who do not share the belief, making full, purposeful and wise use of time, strength and opportunity before it passes beyond recall into eternity. That wisdom belongs with continuing in prayer and watching with thanksgiving, and is received from above by those who keep connection with Jesus, keep His glory in view, study the Word prayerfully and pray for wisdom to present truth clearly and in order. It governs speech and conduct, so that words are always with grace after Christ's pattern, fitting and discreet in knowing how to answer every person, and the life shows purity, meekness, integrity and holy boldness rather than frivolity, sharpness, temper or careless criticism that would misrepresent Christ and hinder good. Redeeming the time is stewardship of a precious entrusted gift in which character is revealed and account must be rendered, calling for indolent habits and idleness to be put away and remaining moments to be used diligently in faithful service to the poor, sick and suffering and in daily duties of home, youth, school and ministry. With unwarned souls perishing and the most favorable hours already passing, that same wisdom sends believers as Christ went to publicans and sinners, to cities, neglected fields near at hand and distant needs, letting the full light of the gospel shine to win souls by holy example and earnest labor.
Words And Setting
Those who are without are people outside the faith, unbelievers who do not share the belief, and toward them believers are to act wisely and discreetly in all dealings while making good use of time and opportunity to win them. Discreet words and actions can draw such persons to Christ and into fellowship with believers, while vanity, frivolity, lightness, and conduct contrary to profession hide purity and heavenly nobility and fail to exert that drawing influence. The call to act wisely toward outsiders is joined to making good use of time because the days are evil, so that godly conduct shining amid moral darkness shows the ennobling influence of truth and helps rather than misleads those who might be brought to God.
Walking in wisdom belongs to continuing in prayer and watching with thanksgiving, a posture of waiting, praying and watching while redeeming the time and making wise use of time and strength to bear testimony before outsiders. It calls for an individual experience of salvation through Jesus Christ, with Christ abiding in the soul by faith and daily practice of Christlikeness of character. Sharp speeches, quick temper, and unsanctified words spoken unadvisedly misrepresent Christ, put Him to shame, dishonor the Christian name, and corrupt both speaker and hearers, showing the need for conversion and for cutting away everything of that kind, since unsanctified character cannot enter heaven. The law of the Lord converts the soul, and faith may claim complete cleansing so as to grow into the likeness and beauty of Christ's character.
The wisdom is applied to speech in the next verse, where words are to be always with grace after Christ's pattern, gracious and fitting and discreet, knowing how to answer every person. Conduct is thus to be joined to such speech, so that testimony before outsiders unites a wise walk with an answer suited to each one. Making the most of every opportunity includes using gained knowledge and privilege to give light to others, studying Scripture diligently for its truths, and praying for wisdom to present those truths clearly and in order.
Redeeming the time means making full, purposeful, wise use of precious time, strength and opportunity before it passes into eternity, and buying back what was lost through neglect and through time already passed unused in the Master's service. Time squandered can never be recovered and not even one moment can be called back, yet what remains can be redeemed by making the most of it. Time is a working day in which character is revealed by what a person does, and using it well in working together with God in His great plan of redemption transforms character to fit a person as a son of God, a member of the royal family and child of the heavenly King, a companion of angels prepared for immortal life, while labor without true knowledge of eternal life ends in nothingness. Those given advanced light must therefore walk wisely before outsiders and improve precious time rather than taking the professed religious world as standard, refusing to remain content doing little or nothing while unwarned souls perish in sin in a great moral conflict, and instead gaining access to souls by letting the full light of the gospel shine into hearts so they behold the way to heaven.
Wise Witness To Outsiders
Walking in wisdom toward outsiders means representing Christ and revealing Him to the world through a personal experience of salvation, with Christ abiding in the soul by faith, the mind governed by Him, and Christlikeness practiced daily in character. That wise conduct uses every opportunity purposefully to win unbelievers to Christ, with speech after Christ's pattern, always with grace, knowing how to answer each person so that influence draws toward salvation. Those who still need sanctifying through the truth must therefore live wisely toward those outside so their influence saves, working out salvation with fear and trembling, taking hold of needed reform without delay and making full saving use of time.
This wisdom is received from above through connection with Jesus and keeping His glory in view, which exposes the world's dishonesty, craftiness, selfishness, pretense and covetousness. God gives such wisdom to those who keep their minds turned toward Him, enabling them to know how to speak and live before others. It requires not only reading the Word of life but prayerfully studying it, diligently searching out its truths, and then imparting the light received so others become interested in studying Scripture for themselves. Praying for wisdom belongs to this same work, that truth may be presented clearly and in order and in the right manner to unbelievers.
Because the days are evil, godly conduct must shine amid moral darkness to show truth's ennobling and purifying influence and to help rather than mislead those who might be brought to God. Purity and simplicity of Christ shown in daily life prove piety genuine and glorify God in all that is said and done, and God blesses all who live this way as they look to Him in confidence for wisdom and guidance. Discreet, wise words and actions draw others to Christ and into fellowship with believers, while vain, frivolous conduct contrary to profession hides purity and heavenly nobility and weakens that influence. Redeeming the time here includes earnest missionary effort joined to personal purification and transformation so truth shines before unbelievers, with believers moving carefully and guardedly while remaining loyal and true to the Lord.
Walking in wisdom is circumspect in word and act, sober, watchful and guarded rather than light, reckless, jesting and joking, though Christian cheerfulness is not condemned. It rejects vanity and frivolity that conflict with Christian profession, and it puts away sharp speeches, quick temper, and unsanctified words spoken unadvisedly, which misrepresent Christ, put Him to shame, dishonor the Christian name, and corrupt both speaker and hearers. Guarded speech with Christlike dignity and prayerful reserve also avoids careless criticism that can be turned against a person and hinder the good to be done, keeping concern for others' salvation foremost. Such careful, faithful dealing seeks to help rather than hurt and avoids conduct that provokes retaliation or contention, glorifying God in what is done and said.
That carefulness labors with mercy, skill and ingenuity, seeking divine power by faith to win souls to Christ. It shows Christlike meekness and humility, refusing severe accusations and railing, since condemnation and judgment belong to God and not to human messengers. At the same time it represents truth through sound principles, firm integrity and holy boldness in acknowledging Christ.
This vigilance belongs to constant spiritual warfare and to making good use of time. It is especially required of those living in the last days who realize the solemnity of the times, with Satan and his host arrayed against God's saints in a constant battle for life with no release. Safety lies in never laying aside the armor, being instant in prayer and on watch every moment. Those who so walk carry solemn influence, are rich in good works, bear the burden of souls, and by holy example faithfully represent Jesus Christ and win souls to accept Him as Saviour.
Stewardship Of Time
Time is a precious gift entrusted by God, a working day in which character is revealed by what a person does, and time with ability and the five, two, or one talents committed are a stewardship belonging to God to be spent to His glory for which every one must render an account for the good that might have been done from a right position but was left undone. Redeeming the time is ever employing time to advantage so that every moment tells with good account to someone, making the most of what remains, since time squandered can never be recovered and not even one moment can be called back. Using it well prepares a person for immortal life, while labor without true knowledge of eternal life ends in nothingness. It means not trifling away precious moments or spending them in selfish indulgence, and not letting useful hours pass in idleness or in recreation that refreshes neither body nor soul. When severe physical labor has taxed strength, change and refreshment by variation are necessary, but entire rest is not necessary, for rest is best found by turning to work that is less exhausting and a blessing to others, such as lightening the cares of mother and sisters by taking up their roughest burdens.
Such helpful service is amusement springing from principle and yields true happiness, while any amusement that disqualifies for secret prayer, devotion at the altar of prayer, or taking part in the prayer meeting is dangerous, and only amusement that can be engaged in asking the blessing of God upon it in faith is safe. Redeeming the time means correcting indolent habits and using time diligently and faithfully in service, using the remaining precious moments rather than wasting them in idleness or sloth. Wise conduct should adorn the faith professed, giving no reason for the truth to be reviled and allowing others to see its reformation in life, and this applies to teachers whose example should show industry, economy, honesty, and freedom from idleness, and to ministers who are to live industriously and faithfully because they will have to give an account of their stewardship when the Master appears. It calls for active personal service, including helping and visiting the poor, sick, and suffering. Workers in God's work should make renewed, diligent use of their time, especially after recognizing opportunities they have lost through neglect or failure to value their work.
Even after an aimless and nearly useless life a person still has present opportunity to make up for lost time by earnest, persevering effort toward heaven, and this present opportunity must be seized before it passes and gives way to darkness. Redeeming the time means washing the robe of character in the blood of the Lamb, feeling need of God's help and receiving it, counting own righteousness as worthless before God, and relying only on the merits of Christ for final victory, and those thus saved with an everlasting salvation will find heaven cheap at any cost. It means working diligently and perseveringly while the day lasts, for the night comes in which no one can work. In the suffering Southern field where time is short and what is done must be done quickly, it means working at once to save perishing people without passing by or seeking own pleasure, but humbling self before God, trusting Him, rousing self and taking hold of the work with a new purpose of heart, making every possible effort to work in Christ's lines in meekness and lowliness while relying on Him for strength and understanding the work He gives to do, and then the way is opened with peace and comfort to go from strength to strength and from grace to grace, whereas following own way and will brings only thorns and thistles and loss of the reward.
Redeeming the time does not restore the past but makes the most of the time that remains by working together with God in His great plan of redemption, and doing this transforms character through the renewing of the mind so that a person becomes a son of God, a member of the royal family, a child of the heavenly King, fitted to be the companion of angels. A life guided by fallen human patterns, feelings, and impulse wastes time, and people cannot recover it by their own strength. This stewardship means arousing from inaction and working mightily as co-workers with Christ and the heavenly angels, feeling a burden of soul for those in need and bringing sinners who are lost and undone and out of Christ to the cross, revealing love for God by love for brethren and sinners, as missionaries in the Master's vineyard improving gifts and trading upon them with all strength. It means to work while it is day to win the crown of immortal glory, heeding the light given and reforming, with the cross of Christ as the only hope revealing the Father's love in suffering to save perishing souls. It makes preparation for the future immortal life the chief study, especially saving self and household and preparing children, for with unhappy dispositions they will never see the paradise of God, and the salvation of the soul is precious. Those who hide their trust like the unprofitable servant who hid his Lord's money in the earth will be bound hand and foot and cast into outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Urgent Soul-Winning Work
Redeeming the time means refusing for churches to remain content doing little or nothing while unwarned souls are perishing in sin in a great moral conflict. Those given advanced light must not take the actions of the professed religious world as their standard, must cease work God has warned against, and must improve precious time before it passes into eternity unused in the Master's service. Gaining access to souls is done by letting the full light of the gospel, the light of true medical missionary work, shine into the hearts of men and women so they behold the way to heaven.
Christ exemplified that wisdom by eating with publicans and sinners to let truth shine, keeping His example high and noble and pure in contrast to neglectful leaders who left their commissioned work undone. He met people where they were at guest tables, in streets, by the lakeside, in synagogues and the temple, and on crowded thoroughfares, sowing truth in willing hearts that admitted sin and later yielded thousands of believers under the apostles. The most favorable time for presenting the message in the cities has passed by while the work was left undone, leaving a heavy burden to act at once and make up for lost opportunity. Sin and wickedness are rapidly increasing, terrible disasters befalling great cities ought to arouse to intense activity, and redeeming the time now requires laboring all the more earnestly to give the warning message to people in congested centers of population while opportunity still remains.
Staying awake to finish God's last work means using the little time given to reach outsiders with wisdom by going right into houses with small or large books, using book selling as introduction and then telling people what the work is, where more sympathy will be found than expected. It means making the most of every opportunity by distributing literature into every hand that will receive it, arresting attention in different ways, and bearing a warning message to high and low without letting any question of why stop the work, with those reproved for serving self rousing to zealous repentance and standing firm in gospel armor for the truth. Covering past neglect in city work brings pardon for past failure and sustaining grace from God as Helper to carry the work forward.
Walking in wisdom means leaders using positions of influence, as president of the conference and as wise leaders in responsibility, to advance city work, to remain at it without being spared from it, to encourage associates to take hold and carry it forward sensibly, and to educate others to labor in the cities. Those who do this in the wisdom and sanctification of Christ go forward in the Lord's name as a power against the enemy with united help from fellow workers, angels of God with them, power from above, the Lord's approval and the joy of success, to the disappointment of the enemy. Redeeming the time is applied with special urgency to the Southern field among millions of Black people in suffering need, where time is short and what is done must be done quickly.
There consecrated effort must proclaim the third angel's message, train and sustain workers, give promising youth the very best advantages to become teachers, build schoolhouses and meetinghouses and employ teachers, and carry medical missionary work, trusting God to give wisdom, bless effort, cooperate with workers, open the way, and give peace and strength from grace to grace while the day lasts before the night when no one can work. That Southern work must be taken up at once without passing by or seeking own pleasure, by humbly trusting God, rousing with new purpose of heart, and working in Christ's lines in meekness and lowliness, since following own way and will brings only thorns and thistles and loss of reward. It requires raising a fund to educate at once men and women in the Southern States without regard to color who are accustomed to the climate and can labor without endangering life, and gathering only small numbers in different places for instruction so as not to attract attention and bring evil upon teachers and schools, with all kinds of missionary work greatly needed there.
The same wisdom sends discreet men and women who will not fail nor be discouraged to neglected fields near at hand, laboring with Christ in self-denial and self-sacrifice with assurance of His presence. Such is the work for hundreds of old veterans and their wives in a soldiers' home, souls purchased by Christ's blood, a home work as important as work in foreign countries that none should belittle.
Faithfulness In Daily Duties
Redeeming the time begins in the home, where fathers and mothers are to prize their privilege, improve their opportunities, and make wise use of the time that remains to correct past mistakes and fulfill their responsibility to guide children to loyalty to God. That wise walk means living before children with a consistency in which sin finds no place in word or act, so that God can hear and answer prayer, with words seasoned with heavenly grace and Christlike words and actions showing a walk with the Saviour. By holding fast to God's promises and obeying His requirements they become evangelists in the home and ministers of grace to their children, faithfully doing the duties God has given for the present and correcting the reproach brought upon His cause. It is work while it is day to win the crown of immortal glory, heeding the light God has given and reforming, with the cross of Christ as the only hope revealing the Father's love in suffering to save perishing souls. Preparation for the future immortal life is therefore to be the chief study, especially the preparing of children, for with unhappy dispositions they will never see the paradise of God, and the salvation of self and household is precious.
Youth are to employ time to advantage so that every moment tells with good account to someone, for time and ability are privileges for which account must be rendered. Precious moments are not to be trifled away or spent in selfish indulgence and idleness, even when weary with one kind of labor. When severe physical labor has taxed strength, change and refreshment by variation are necessary, but entire rest is not necessary, and rest is best found by turning to work that is less exhausting and a blessing to others. Such refreshment comes by lightening the cares of mother and sisters and taking up their roughest burdens, and such helpful service is amusement springing from principle and yields true happiness while making each moment beneficial. Any amusement that disqualifies for secret prayer, devotion at the altar of prayer, or taking part in the prayer meeting is dangerous, and only amusement that can be engaged in asking God's blessing upon it in faith is safe.
The same diligence binds teachers and ministers, who are to use the remaining precious moments diligently rather than wasting them in idleness or sloth. Teachers are to show in example industry, economy, honesty, and freedom from idleness, for all are accountable to God for their stewardship. Ministers are to live industriously and faithfully because they must give an account of their stewardship when the Master appears, and redeeming the time means being ready for that accountability.
Even a very critical case may overcome and redeem the time by stronger present effort now against what has grown with growth and strengthened with strength. That effort means reflecting more and talking less, being watchful and prayerful, and accepting the patient, persevering help of brethren. In one instance it required putting away the habit of exaggerating and talking much without care to relate matters just as told or just as they exist, with husband and wife together arising to make powerful efforts for everlasting life, met by God's pity toward faulty early teaching and present weakness. Those who have dealt dishonestly must likewise change course with swift, wise action and make good use of the time to correct their conduct.
Institutions also are to buy back lost time through urgent and complete reformation, arousing and striving with the Lord's help to put away existing evils if possible. That retrieval seeks to make up the losses of twenty-five years of neglect of duty and to remove the guilt resting on God's people, restoring spiritual life enfeebled by centralization and commercialism, regaining distinguishing Christian characteristics, and casting out worldly business principles brought in through unconsecrated men. To redeem the time is to make good use of it in carrying out duty, as when recognition of neglected duty in Australia called for making up lost time and becoming fitted for service. It means making earnest effort now to give long-waited help to schools in need, as applied to Huntsville and Madison, and taking up neglected duty toward people within the church's influence.
To walk in wisdom toward those outside the faith means to live circumspectly before unbelievers who do not share the belief, making full, purposeful and wise use of time, strength and opportunity before it passes beyond recall into eternity. That wisdom belongs with continuing in prayer and watching with thanksgiving, and is received from above by those who keep connection with Jesus, keep His glory in view, study the Word prayerfully and pray for wisdom to present truth clearly and in order. It governs speech and conduct, so that words are always with grace after Christ's pattern, fitting and discreet in knowing how to answer every person, and the life shows purity, meekness, integrity and holy boldness rather than frivolity, sharpness, temper or careless criticism that would misrepresent Christ and hinder good. Redeeming the time is stewardship of a precious entrusted gift in which character is revealed and account must be rendered, calling for indolent habits and idleness to be put away and remaining moments to be used diligently in faithful service to the poor, sick and suffering and in daily duties of home, youth, school and ministry. With unwarned souls perishing and the most favorable hours already passing, that same wisdom sends believers as Christ went to publicans and sinners, to cities, neglected fields near at hand and distant needs, letting the full light of the gospel shine to win souls by holy example and earnest labor.
Words And Setting
Those who are without are people outside the faith, unbelievers who do not share the belief, and toward them believers are to act wisely and discreetly in all dealings while making good use of time and opportunity to win them. Discreet words and actions can draw such persons to Christ and into fellowship with believers, while vanity, frivolity, lightness, and conduct contrary to profession hide purity and heavenly nobility and fail to exert that drawing influence. The call to act wisely toward outsiders is joined to making good use of time because the days are evil, so that godly conduct shining amid moral darkness shows the ennobling influence of truth and helps rather than misleads those who might be brought to God.
Walking in wisdom belongs to continuing in prayer and watching with thanksgiving, a posture of waiting, praying and watching while redeeming the time and making wise use of time and strength to bear testimony before outsiders. It calls for an individual experience of salvation through Jesus Christ, with Christ abiding in the soul by faith and daily practice of Christlikeness of character. Sharp speeches, quick temper, and unsanctified words spoken unadvisedly misrepresent Christ, put Him to shame, dishonor the Christian name, and corrupt both speaker and hearers, showing the need for conversion and for cutting away everything of that kind, since unsanctified character cannot enter heaven. The law of the Lord converts the soul, and faith may claim complete cleansing so as to grow into the likeness and beauty of Christ's character.
The wisdom is applied to speech in the next verse, where words are to be always with grace after Christ's pattern, gracious and fitting and discreet, knowing how to answer every person. Conduct is thus to be joined to such speech, so that testimony before outsiders unites a wise walk with an answer suited to each one. Making the most of every opportunity includes using gained knowledge and privilege to give light to others, studying Scripture diligently for its truths, and praying for wisdom to present those truths clearly and in order.
Redeeming the time means making full, purposeful, wise use of precious time, strength and opportunity before it passes into eternity, and buying back what was lost through neglect and through time already passed unused in the Master's service. Time squandered can never be recovered and not even one moment can be called back, yet what remains can be redeemed by making the most of it. Time is a working day in which character is revealed by what a person does, and using it well in working together with God in His great plan of redemption transforms character to fit a person as a son of God, a member of the royal family and child of the heavenly King, a companion of angels prepared for immortal life, while labor without true knowledge of eternal life ends in nothingness. Those given advanced light must therefore walk wisely before outsiders and improve precious time rather than taking the professed religious world as standard, refusing to remain content doing little or nothing while unwarned souls perish in sin in a great moral conflict, and instead gaining access to souls by letting the full light of the gospel shine into hearts so they behold the way to heaven.
Wise Witness To Outsiders
Walking in wisdom toward outsiders means representing Christ and revealing Him to the world through a personal experience of salvation, with Christ abiding in the soul by faith, the mind governed by Him, and Christlikeness practiced daily in character. That wise conduct uses every opportunity purposefully to win unbelievers to Christ, with speech after Christ's pattern, always with grace, knowing how to answer each person so that influence draws toward salvation. Those who still need sanctifying through the truth must therefore live wisely toward those outside so their influence saves, working out salvation with fear and trembling, taking hold of needed reform without delay and making full saving use of time.
This wisdom is received from above through connection with Jesus and keeping His glory in view, which exposes the world's dishonesty, craftiness, selfishness, pretense and covetousness. God gives such wisdom to those who keep their minds turned toward Him, enabling them to know how to speak and live before others. It requires not only reading the Word of life but prayerfully studying it, diligently searching out its truths, and then imparting the light received so others become interested in studying Scripture for themselves. Praying for wisdom belongs to this same work, that truth may be presented clearly and in order and in the right manner to unbelievers.
Because the days are evil, godly conduct must shine amid moral darkness to show truth's ennobling and purifying influence and to help rather than mislead those who might be brought to God. Purity and simplicity of Christ shown in daily life prove piety genuine and glorify God in all that is said and done, and God blesses all who live this way as they look to Him in confidence for wisdom and guidance. Discreet, wise words and actions draw others to Christ and into fellowship with believers, while vain, frivolous conduct contrary to profession hides purity and heavenly nobility and weakens that influence. Redeeming the time here includes earnest missionary effort joined to personal purification and transformation so truth shines before unbelievers, with believers moving carefully and guardedly while remaining loyal and true to the Lord.
Walking in wisdom is circumspect in word and act, sober, watchful and guarded rather than light, reckless, jesting and joking, though Christian cheerfulness is not condemned. It rejects vanity and frivolity that conflict with Christian profession, and it puts away sharp speeches, quick temper, and unsanctified words spoken unadvisedly, which misrepresent Christ, put Him to shame, dishonor the Christian name, and corrupt both speaker and hearers. Guarded speech with Christlike dignity and prayerful reserve also avoids careless criticism that can be turned against a person and hinder the good to be done, keeping concern for others' salvation foremost. Such careful, faithful dealing seeks to help rather than hurt and avoids conduct that provokes retaliation or contention, glorifying God in what is done and said.
That carefulness labors with mercy, skill and ingenuity, seeking divine power by faith to win souls to Christ. It shows Christlike meekness and humility, refusing severe accusations and railing, since condemnation and judgment belong to God and not to human messengers. At the same time it represents truth through sound principles, firm integrity and holy boldness in acknowledging Christ.
This vigilance belongs to constant spiritual warfare and to making good use of time. It is especially required of those living in the last days who realize the solemnity of the times, with Satan and his host arrayed against God's saints in a constant battle for life with no release. Safety lies in never laying aside the armor, being instant in prayer and on watch every moment. Those who so walk carry solemn influence, are rich in good works, bear the burden of souls, and by holy example faithfully represent Jesus Christ and win souls to accept Him as Saviour.
Stewardship Of Time
Time is a precious gift entrusted by God, a working day in which character is revealed by what a person does, and time with ability and the five, two, or one talents committed are a stewardship belonging to God to be spent to His glory for which every one must render an account for the good that might have been done from a right position but was left undone. Redeeming the time is ever employing time to advantage so that every moment tells with good account to someone, making the most of what remains, since time squandered can never be recovered and not even one moment can be called back. Using it well prepares a person for immortal life, while labor without true knowledge of eternal life ends in nothingness. It means not trifling away precious moments or spending them in selfish indulgence, and not letting useful hours pass in idleness or in recreation that refreshes neither body nor soul. When severe physical labor has taxed strength, change and refreshment by variation are necessary, but entire rest is not necessary, for rest is best found by turning to work that is less exhausting and a blessing to others, such as lightening the cares of mother and sisters by taking up their roughest burdens.
Such helpful service is amusement springing from principle and yields true happiness, while any amusement that disqualifies for secret prayer, devotion at the altar of prayer, or taking part in the prayer meeting is dangerous, and only amusement that can be engaged in asking the blessing of God upon it in faith is safe. Redeeming the time means correcting indolent habits and using time diligently and faithfully in service, using the remaining precious moments rather than wasting them in idleness or sloth. Wise conduct should adorn the faith professed, giving no reason for the truth to be reviled and allowing others to see its reformation in life, and this applies to teachers whose example should show industry, economy, honesty, and freedom from idleness, and to ministers who are to live industriously and faithfully because they will have to give an account of their stewardship when the Master appears. It calls for active personal service, including helping and visiting the poor, sick, and suffering. Workers in God's work should make renewed, diligent use of their time, especially after recognizing opportunities they have lost through neglect or failure to value their work.
Even after an aimless and nearly useless life a person still has present opportunity to make up for lost time by earnest, persevering effort toward heaven, and this present opportunity must be seized before it passes and gives way to darkness. Redeeming the time means washing the robe of character in the blood of the Lamb, feeling need of God's help and receiving it, counting own righteousness as worthless before God, and relying only on the merits of Christ for final victory, and those thus saved with an everlasting salvation will find heaven cheap at any cost. It means working diligently and perseveringly while the day lasts, for the night comes in which no one can work. In the suffering Southern field where time is short and what is done must be done quickly, it means working at once to save perishing people without passing by or seeking own pleasure, but humbling self before God, trusting Him, rousing self and taking hold of the work with a new purpose of heart, making every possible effort to work in Christ's lines in meekness and lowliness while relying on Him for strength and understanding the work He gives to do, and then the way is opened with peace and comfort to go from strength to strength and from grace to grace, whereas following own way and will brings only thorns and thistles and loss of the reward.
Redeeming the time does not restore the past but makes the most of the time that remains by working together with God in His great plan of redemption, and doing this transforms character through the renewing of the mind so that a person becomes a son of God, a member of the royal family, a child of the heavenly King, fitted to be the companion of angels. A life guided by fallen human patterns, feelings, and impulse wastes time, and people cannot recover it by their own strength. This stewardship means arousing from inaction and working mightily as co-workers with Christ and the heavenly angels, feeling a burden of soul for those in need and bringing sinners who are lost and undone and out of Christ to the cross, revealing love for God by love for brethren and sinners, as missionaries in the Master's vineyard improving gifts and trading upon them with all strength. It means to work while it is day to win the crown of immortal glory, heeding the light given and reforming, with the cross of Christ as the only hope revealing the Father's love in suffering to save perishing souls. It makes preparation for the future immortal life the chief study, especially saving self and household and preparing children, for with unhappy dispositions they will never see the paradise of God, and the salvation of the soul is precious. Those who hide their trust like the unprofitable servant who hid his Lord's money in the earth will be bound hand and foot and cast into outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Urgent Soul-Winning Work
Redeeming the time means refusing for churches to remain content doing little or nothing while unwarned souls are perishing in sin in a great moral conflict. Those given advanced light must not take the actions of the professed religious world as their standard, must cease work God has warned against, and must improve precious time before it passes into eternity unused in the Master's service. Gaining access to souls is done by letting the full light of the gospel, the light of true medical missionary work, shine into the hearts of men and women so they behold the way to heaven.
Christ exemplified that wisdom by eating with publicans and sinners to let truth shine, keeping His example high and noble and pure in contrast to neglectful leaders who left their commissioned work undone. He met people where they were at guest tables, in streets, by the lakeside, in synagogues and the temple, and on crowded thoroughfares, sowing truth in willing hearts that admitted sin and later yielded thousands of believers under the apostles. The most favorable time for presenting the message in the cities has passed by while the work was left undone, leaving a heavy burden to act at once and make up for lost opportunity. Sin and wickedness are rapidly increasing, terrible disasters befalling great cities ought to arouse to intense activity, and redeeming the time now requires laboring all the more earnestly to give the warning message to people in congested centers of population while opportunity still remains.
Staying awake to finish God's last work means using the little time given to reach outsiders with wisdom by going right into houses with small or large books, using book selling as introduction and then telling people what the work is, where more sympathy will be found than expected. It means making the most of every opportunity by distributing literature into every hand that will receive it, arresting attention in different ways, and bearing a warning message to high and low without letting any question of why stop the work, with those reproved for serving self rousing to zealous repentance and standing firm in gospel armor for the truth. Covering past neglect in city work brings pardon for past failure and sustaining grace from God as Helper to carry the work forward.
Walking in wisdom means leaders using positions of influence, as president of the conference and as wise leaders in responsibility, to advance city work, to remain at it without being spared from it, to encourage associates to take hold and carry it forward sensibly, and to educate others to labor in the cities. Those who do this in the wisdom and sanctification of Christ go forward in the Lord's name as a power against the enemy with united help from fellow workers, angels of God with them, power from above, the Lord's approval and the joy of success, to the disappointment of the enemy. Redeeming the time is applied with special urgency to the Southern field among millions of Black people in suffering need, where time is short and what is done must be done quickly.
There consecrated effort must proclaim the third angel's message, train and sustain workers, give promising youth the very best advantages to become teachers, build schoolhouses and meetinghouses and employ teachers, and carry medical missionary work, trusting God to give wisdom, bless effort, cooperate with workers, open the way, and give peace and strength from grace to grace while the day lasts before the night when no one can work. That Southern work must be taken up at once without passing by or seeking own pleasure, by humbly trusting God, rousing with new purpose of heart, and working in Christ's lines in meekness and lowliness, since following own way and will brings only thorns and thistles and loss of reward. It requires raising a fund to educate at once men and women in the Southern States without regard to color who are accustomed to the climate and can labor without endangering life, and gathering only small numbers in different places for instruction so as not to attract attention and bring evil upon teachers and schools, with all kinds of missionary work greatly needed there.
The same wisdom sends discreet men and women who will not fail nor be discouraged to neglected fields near at hand, laboring with Christ in self-denial and self-sacrifice with assurance of His presence. Such is the work for hundreds of old veterans and their wives in a soldiers' home, souls purchased by Christ's blood, a home work as important as work in foreign countries that none should belittle.
Faithfulness In Daily Duties
Redeeming the time begins in the home, where fathers and mothers are to prize their privilege, improve their opportunities, and make wise use of the time that remains to correct past mistakes and fulfill their responsibility to guide children to loyalty to God. That wise walk means living before children with a consistency in which sin finds no place in word or act, so that God can hear and answer prayer, with words seasoned with heavenly grace and Christlike words and actions showing a walk with the Saviour. By holding fast to God's promises and obeying His requirements they become evangelists in the home and ministers of grace to their children, faithfully doing the duties God has given for the present and correcting the reproach brought upon His cause. It is work while it is day to win the crown of immortal glory, heeding the light God has given and reforming, with the cross of Christ as the only hope revealing the Father's love in suffering to save perishing souls. Preparation for the future immortal life is therefore to be the chief study, especially the preparing of children, for with unhappy dispositions they will never see the paradise of God, and the salvation of self and household is precious.
Youth are to employ time to advantage so that every moment tells with good account to someone, for time and ability are privileges for which account must be rendered. Precious moments are not to be trifled away or spent in selfish indulgence and idleness, even when weary with one kind of labor. When severe physical labor has taxed strength, change and refreshment by variation are necessary, but entire rest is not necessary, and rest is best found by turning to work that is less exhausting and a blessing to others. Such refreshment comes by lightening the cares of mother and sisters and taking up their roughest burdens, and such helpful service is amusement springing from principle and yields true happiness while making each moment beneficial. Any amusement that disqualifies for secret prayer, devotion at the altar of prayer, or taking part in the prayer meeting is dangerous, and only amusement that can be engaged in asking God's blessing upon it in faith is safe.
The same diligence binds teachers and ministers, who are to use the remaining precious moments diligently rather than wasting them in idleness or sloth. Teachers are to show in example industry, economy, honesty, and freedom from idleness, for all are accountable to God for their stewardship. Ministers are to live industriously and faithfully because they must give an account of their stewardship when the Master appears, and redeeming the time means being ready for that accountability.
Even a very critical case may overcome and redeem the time by stronger present effort now against what has grown with growth and strengthened with strength. That effort means reflecting more and talking less, being watchful and prayerful, and accepting the patient, persevering help of brethren. In one instance it required putting away the habit of exaggerating and talking much without care to relate matters just as told or just as they exist, with husband and wife together arising to make powerful efforts for everlasting life, met by God's pity toward faulty early teaching and present weakness. Those who have dealt dishonestly must likewise change course with swift, wise action and make good use of the time to correct their conduct.
Institutions also are to buy back lost time through urgent and complete reformation, arousing and striving with the Lord's help to put away existing evils if possible. That retrieval seeks to make up the losses of twenty-five years of neglect of duty and to remove the guilt resting on God's people, restoring spiritual life enfeebled by centralization and commercialism, regaining distinguishing Christian characteristics, and casting out worldly business principles brought in through unconsecrated men. To redeem the time is to make good use of it in carrying out duty, as when recognition of neglected duty in Australia called for making up lost time and becoming fitted for service. It means making earnest effort now to give long-waited help to schools in need, as applied to Huntsville and Madison, and taking up neglected duty toward people within the church's influence.