I once read a wise quote when I was still in high school. It goes like this, “The best time to plant a tree was 50 years ago. The second best time is now.” I believe this quote is not just about saving the environment by planting trees. But it also teaches us about how we invest our time. The Bible teaches us:

“See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is” (Ephesians 5:15-16).

These three verses are packed with spiritual meaning that should teach us how we spend our time. After all, how we use our time defines our lives. It defines who we are. It tells us the things that are valuable to us.

The Apostle Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus that they should walk or behave wisely and “redeem” the time. Redeeming the time means to buy back something that you have lost. The “fools” of this world lost a lot of their time because they do not care about falling into temptation. They have invested their times on fool’s gold, on things that will not last forever. They live their lives as if they will not be held accountable for their actions.

However, as Christians, we need to make the RIGHT INVESTMENT of our time. We need to redeem the time as wise men. We need to be diligent and be always ON GUARD against the sins that can easily beset us. And one of the best ways to gain wisdom is to know the will of the Lord in our lives.

But how can we know the will of the Lord? It is by studying his Word, the Bible. It does not come naturally. It needs sacrifice. It needs our TIME. If we really live by the Matthew 6:33 principle, then we put God first in our lives and study His word. We need to remember that the BEST INVESTMENT OF OUR TIME is to do regular Bible study and apply them in our lives.

So when are you going to start? The answer is NOW. Just like the quote I told you. The best time to plant God’s word in our hearts may have been years ago. But it is NEVER too late. We can change our lives today. We can make the change in our lives right here, right now. We make the best investment of our time starting at this very moment.

So redeem the time. Invest your time in the things that have ETERNAL VALUE, and at the end of your life, you will never regret how you spent your time on this earth.