Your Resolutions Already Broken? Here's What Matters
See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. (Ephesians 5:15–16)
By now you've probably set your New Year's resolutions for 2026, and perhaps you've even broken a couple. Today I want to talk about redeeming the time.
Are New Year's resolutions even Christian?
Probably not. But I do think they draw on Christian principles, though they've been heavily secularized. A new year reminds us that His mercies are new every morning, that this year doesn't have to be like last year, and that Christ died so that we may be redeemed and redeem our time and use it well. It's the idea that you can change. In the secular sense, you change yourself. In the Christian sense, you can't do it without the Holy Spirit, but you can change.
Redeeming the time, using your time well, is all over Scripture: the Proverbs, the Psalms, Ephesians, Colossians, just to name a few.
What does redeeming the time mean?
To redeem, as we see in Ruth, is to buy back, to keep something from what it would have been. So redeeming the time reminds us of several things:
- Our depravity. Without intentionality, without real change, without the Holy Spirit, we'd be doing something entirely different.
- God's grace and mercy, that He gives us a way to be redeemed in His only begotten Son.
- Our eternality. This isn't the end. There's forever to worship and love the Lord and glorify Him.
- Wise stewardship. Being intentional and careful with our days, because they're limited.
- Making the most of opportunity. The Greek word for time here can also mean opportunity. Maybe you realize a neighbor is lost and you share the gospel with him. Maybe you see someone broken down on the side of the road, you know how to fix a car, and you stop and help. God leads you in those moments.
- Living with eternity in mind. We aren't living here forever. We'll either live with the Lord in paradise or suffer in hell for eternity, and that's a reminder to strive to live rightly now.
Next week we'll review Richard Rogers' Holy Helps for a Godly Life, twelve chapters that are basically a guide to living a holy, godly life, with so much on discipline and the means of grace. It's an excellent book for early in the year, because it reminds you that your resolutions are probably good, but they aren't everything. We need to be focused on the spiritual more than on worldly success.
Why this, why now
I wasn't planning to talk about this today. But the new year obviously played a large role. Then a group of close friends and I started an accountability group to make sure we're redeeming the time instead of wasting it. And this morning, at a men's prayer breakfast at my church, the devotion was, providentially, on redeeming the time. What a timely topic.
A few challenges for this year
As some of our resolutions fall through the cracks, don't let your spiritual integrity do so.
- Limit distractions, like excessive screen time. I know you're on YouTube right now, and I know it's a cliché, but my goal is not to help you binge-watch more Reformed theology content. My goal is for you to watch one video, see its value, and then get off YouTube, off social media, off your phone, and read and study. Maybe pray right after this. Rogers also stresses meditation, inward thinking, and that needs fewer distractions.
- Develop godly rhythms in your daily life. That looks different for everyone, but be in the Word every day, and spend at least a few minutes in prayer: confessing your sin, raising your petitions, giving Him your heart, asking for His Holy Spirit.
- Act wisely and do good to everyone, especially those outside the faith. My job has me in and out of people's homes all the time, and this year I want to focus on sharing the love of Jesus with all my clients.
- Ask the Lord to fill you with His Spirit, and give thanks. The verses that follow (Ephesians 5:18–20) talk about giving thanks to the Lord despite your circumstances. As Jeremiah Burroughs reminds us, rejoice in the Lord, for He is good and holy and worthy.
What resolutions have you set? What are you hoping to accomplish spiritually this year? Reading the Bible through, studying a specific book, praying regularly, living intentionally? Let me know in the comments on the video, and let's use this community to hold each other accountable: to study the Word and theology, not just as head knowledge, but as a heart-permeating knowledge lived out for the rest of our lives, to the glory of His holy and excellent name. Amen.
Soli Deo Gloria!
