Professor’s Corner- MAKING THE BEST USE OF THE NEW YEAR

When the clock strikes midnight on December 31st, we will have 12 months, 52 weeks, 365 days, 8,760 hours, 525, 600 minutes, and 31,536,000 seconds before us. As Christians, it can be most advantageous if we prayerfully contemplate just how we intend to utilize this time. It can also be beneficial if we contemplate beforehand what we intend to have to show for them at the end of the year – should God allow us to live the entire year (cf. James 4:13-15). The Bible tells us that God has given us the precious gift of time. As we enter the New Year, I think you’ll agree we do well to remember He wants us to use that time to glorify His Son the Lord Jesus Christ…

ESV Ephesians 5:15-17 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

There is much in these three verses that can be seen as guidelines for us as we enter a new year – or any other time, for that matter. The first clause is clearly an example” “Look carefully… how you walk” (“walk” means “live”). An exclamation point could rightfully be placed after these words because “look” is an imperative, a command. Scholars disagree whether the adverb “carefully” should modify “look” or “walk.” You can make a convincing case for either. While I would never want to infer that we should ever be casual in studying the Scripture, I believe if one thinks it through, however, it matters little, for looking carefully would logically lead to a careful walk, and walking carefully would imply one has looked judiciously, has been watchful, vigilant, aware. If I had to choose between the two options, I would go with the latter, since, as the Bible Knowledge Commentary points out, “’look’ in the N.T. is nowhere else modified by an adverb.” Either way, the main idea is clearly communicated: we are commanded to be careful how we live.

NET  Ephesians 5:15 Therefore be very careful how you live…

The manner of this careful walk is “making the right use of every opportunity” (cf. Col. 4:5), and the reason for this careful walk is that “the days are evil.” Many are walking in sin, and since the time is short believers must make full use of their time to help turn them from darkness to light. This necessitates wise conduct.

“Wisdom” in this context would best be defined as that mental quality which is discerning or skillful. While that definition is good and correct (in most contexts), it should be added that biblical wisdom tends to be more practical than theoretical or intellectual. It is the God-given capacity to make the correct analysis of the situation and act accordingly in obedience to Scripture..

Note the “therefore,” which is in the Greek text, and in the opinion of this Greek professor should be in all English translations. As has often been rightly said, whenever we see “therefore,” we should ask what it’s there for. It’s there for to connect the thought in a verse or verses to the previous verse or verses, in this case connecting vv. 15-17 to vv. 13-14:

NAS Ephesians 5:13-14 But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. 14 For this reason it says, “Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you.”

In the context, Paul is exhorting believers to renounce pagan ways. Some may brush aside any relation to us in our modernity today, but is that really wise? A “careful look” around our society today should, I believe, convince us otherwise.

“Making the best use” (v. 16) comes from the Greek word ἐξαγοράζω (ex-ah-gor-ahd-zo), meaning literally “to redeem.” I have always liked the old King James translation, “redeeming the time.” To redeem is to buy back. Another good connotation of the Greek word would be “to make the most of,” as in, “take godly advantage of every opportunity that comes your way,” while at the same time avoiding anything that interferes with being obedient to God’s Word.

I would propose that the preeminent, most reliable way to make the best use of 2016 is to be consistently and studiously in God’s Word. It is we ourselves and no one else who must decide how we will redeem the time in the New Year. Will we insure that God’s Word controls our thinking and thereby our behavior by being faithful to be in church every Sunday and in God’s Word every day? It is we and no one else who decide the level of our commitment to Christ. There is nothing in the Bible that advocates a careless walk. Most all would surely say we want to do God’s will in our lives, but without right knowledge of God’s will, how is this possible? God’s will is found in God’s Word. To live carefully, it should, I think, be obvious that we must look carefully to Scripture. Colossians 3:16 is a good verse to meditate upon in connection to what I am saying:

ESV Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

It’s all but impossible to grow in wisdom and understanding apart from the Bible. Spiritual growth occurs when we read the Bible and then apply its truths to our lives. Colossians 3:16 is another command. “Dwell” means remain in us permanently. The present tense of this main verb emphasizes continuousness. “Richly” means abundantly. This is far more than just opening our Bibles every once in a while.

Most of us are probably willing to acknowledge the truth of this reality but the thought of actually committing to making this command a reality in our lives can intimidate us, that is, if we allow our focus to shift from Christ to the world.

Always at the beginning of a New Year, the subject of resolutions naturally comes up. We all recognize we are good at making resolutions but better at breaking them. Without rationalizing our human tendencies to failures, I think it is important we remind ourselves God does not expect us  to get everything together all at once. Rather, God’s method for us is for us to acquire a little bit of His vast wisdom daily. Learning is a process, not an event. Consider that statement in light of these verses, which may be seen to refer to God’s Word as food:

ESV Exodus 16:4 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not.

ESV  Matthew 6:11 Give us this day our daily bread,

Having the Word of Christ dwell in us richly is a long and often challenging process, not something that is meant to be rapidly acquired and immediately mastered. “Every day” and “daily” are terms that speak to the truth that knowledge is most often acquired incrementally. It is also cumulative, in that today’s knowledge of the Bible builds upon what we have learned before. I think this story of the miner’s lamp is the perfect illustration of this important truth.

In a cave, the only way you can get the miner’s helmet-light to shine any further in the darkness is to step into the light you already have. The light does not advance until you advance into the light you already have. When you take a step into the light you already have, the light automatically shines one further step into the darkness.

This is how learning the Word of God works itself out in the lives of believers. You must step into the light you have before you get more light. If you want light in the darkness of 2016, step into the light you already have.

ESV  Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

NAS  Psalm 119:130 The unfolding of Thy words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple.

Consider how we would redeem the time ahead of us in the coming year, how careful our walk would be, how wonderful 2016 would likely be if we were consistently in God’s Word, continuously learning His will for our lives, and then consistently and constantly applying that knowledge in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. What we most need for the coming year, how we can make the best use of our time in the New Year, I would suggest, is to be in God’s Word. What we long for in the way of peace and assurance is not found “out there” but “in here,” in the pages of Scripture.

NAS 2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;17 that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

If we are faithfully in God’s Word, we will be making the best use of our time in 2016. Happy New Year in the Lord!

– Professor Thomas A. Rohm