Carpe Diem: Seize the Day
Carpe Diem: Seize the Day
Ephesians 5:15–17 “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.”
The Apostle Paul exhorts the Christian’s in Ephesus to look carefully how they walk, meaning how they live, not as unwise, but as wise. They were to make the best use of their time. The phrase making the best use of is the Greek word exagoradzo, meaning to redeem or rescue from loss. The idea is of taking full advantage of, seizing a buying opportunity, i.e., making the most of the present opportunity (recognizing its future gain). They were to live wisely. There are two kinds of wisdom: the wisdom of the world and the wisdom from God. In his letter to the Christians in Corinth, Paul elaborates upon the two types of wisdom. 1 Corinthians 1:18-25: “For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.”
The first century Christian’s needed God’s wisdom so that they would know how to live in their time. How true this is for each of us today, as we live in these last days dominated by deception. We need God’s wisdom so that we can make the best use of our time, for the days are evil. Having Godly wisdom that aids us in the proper understanding and use of our time will prevent us from foolishly living for the trinkets of this world, so that we can understand and live out God’s will for each of us.
The prayer of Moses in Psalm 90 is especially helpful when considering our time, or the days we have been given by the Lord. Moses writes in verse twelve, “So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” At first glance, this seems so morbid. It’s not. We need for God to teach us to number our days. When we understand the significance of the gift of time we have been given by God, this truth will become one of the greatest catalysts aiding you in living a life that rewards you, blesses others and brings God great glory.
The average human lives 640,000 hours, or 73 years. Most people presume they have time! And yet no one knows how much time they have left. Our lives are measured by time, and our lives are a gift from God. As a pastor, I can’t even begin to count the number of funerals I have done over the past twenty-plus years. From stillborn children to the aged and all ages in between. Death is no respecter of persons. Many times, I have been at the bedside of the dying. In my experience, when speaking to those nearing death, there is only one thing they want more of; not once did anyone want more money, more possessions, or fame. They wanted more time. For without time, money is useless, possessions are worthless, and fame is pointless. Time is a most valuable commodity because no one can produce more of it. You cannot stop time. You cannot save time, but you can use it, spend it, invest it; you can also waste it, squander it, or simply pass the time away. Time once passed can never be regained. Seconds into minutes, minutes into hours, hours into days, days to months, months to years. The sand in our hourglass keeps trickling through.
Everybody assumes they have plenty of time. An assumption is a belief or proposition taken for granted without empirical evidence. It's a cognitive shortcut. There is a Latin Phrase I often think of when considering time: Corpe Deim: to seize the day, meaning to pluck the day as it is ripe. This speaks of plucking fruit when it is perfectly ripe. The window of time is very brief when picking fruit at its peak ripeness, and one must pay close attention, or that time will pass by, and you will miss it.
Dear Christian, your time is limited; use it wisely. Don’t squander it; don’t waste the gift God has given you. Treat everything God has blessed you with in life as a gift you are to steward for Him, whether person, work, or possession, making those things fruitful and a blessing to God and His Kingdom.
Lord, teach us to number our days, so that our lives might glorify you!
In Christ,
Pastor John
Ephesians 5:15–17 “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.”
The Apostle Paul exhorts the Christian’s in Ephesus to look carefully how they walk, meaning how they live, not as unwise, but as wise. They were to make the best use of their time. The phrase making the best use of is the Greek word exagoradzo, meaning to redeem or rescue from loss. The idea is of taking full advantage of, seizing a buying opportunity, i.e., making the most of the present opportunity (recognizing its future gain). They were to live wisely. There are two kinds of wisdom: the wisdom of the world and the wisdom from God. In his letter to the Christians in Corinth, Paul elaborates upon the two types of wisdom. 1 Corinthians 1:18-25: “For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.”
The first century Christian’s needed God’s wisdom so that they would know how to live in their time. How true this is for each of us today, as we live in these last days dominated by deception. We need God’s wisdom so that we can make the best use of our time, for the days are evil. Having Godly wisdom that aids us in the proper understanding and use of our time will prevent us from foolishly living for the trinkets of this world, so that we can understand and live out God’s will for each of us.
The prayer of Moses in Psalm 90 is especially helpful when considering our time, or the days we have been given by the Lord. Moses writes in verse twelve, “So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” At first glance, this seems so morbid. It’s not. We need for God to teach us to number our days. When we understand the significance of the gift of time we have been given by God, this truth will become one of the greatest catalysts aiding you in living a life that rewards you, blesses others and brings God great glory.
The average human lives 640,000 hours, or 73 years. Most people presume they have time! And yet no one knows how much time they have left. Our lives are measured by time, and our lives are a gift from God. As a pastor, I can’t even begin to count the number of funerals I have done over the past twenty-plus years. From stillborn children to the aged and all ages in between. Death is no respecter of persons. Many times, I have been at the bedside of the dying. In my experience, when speaking to those nearing death, there is only one thing they want more of; not once did anyone want more money, more possessions, or fame. They wanted more time. For without time, money is useless, possessions are worthless, and fame is pointless. Time is a most valuable commodity because no one can produce more of it. You cannot stop time. You cannot save time, but you can use it, spend it, invest it; you can also waste it, squander it, or simply pass the time away. Time once passed can never be regained. Seconds into minutes, minutes into hours, hours into days, days to months, months to years. The sand in our hourglass keeps trickling through.
Everybody assumes they have plenty of time. An assumption is a belief or proposition taken for granted without empirical evidence. It's a cognitive shortcut. There is a Latin Phrase I often think of when considering time: Corpe Deim: to seize the day, meaning to pluck the day as it is ripe. This speaks of plucking fruit when it is perfectly ripe. The window of time is very brief when picking fruit at its peak ripeness, and one must pay close attention, or that time will pass by, and you will miss it.
Dear Christian, your time is limited; use it wisely. Don’t squander it; don’t waste the gift God has given you. Treat everything God has blessed you with in life as a gift you are to steward for Him, whether person, work, or possession, making those things fruitful and a blessing to God and His Kingdom.
Lord, teach us to number our days, so that our lives might glorify you!
In Christ,
Pastor John
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