Colossians 4:5 Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.
To walk wisely as Paul instructs here is to draw a ‘circle’ around yourself. It is to place boundaries around your life that you will not cross. These boundaries should cover everything from morals, speech, time, and relationships to abilities, goals, and dreams.
Wisdom walks with care, not carelessly.
It’s the foolish who don’t have boundaries. They believe they can do anything and get away with anything. They mock boundaries, as though they are limiting their life when really, boundaries are the reason successful people have successful lives!
When wisdom talks about foolish people, it is not referring to idiotic or outrageous behavior, but about being too casual, too care-free and not having the right level of sober-mindedness in your life. It is not giving enough attention to placing boundaries in your life. It’s the careless bird that gets caught in the net!
In this verse, the Apostle Paul immediately addresses the issue of time as being closely related to wisdom. Foolish people waste their time, which is wasting their life. Wise people make the most of every minute. They don’t waste time.
All of us are allotted 24 hours every day. It’s been allocated to you to spend however you wish to spend it. At the end of each day, you have to ask yourself what have you 'purchased’ with your time? 24 hours is like a bar of gold. What did you get for it? Did you waste that bar of gold yesterday, what about today?
Psalm 90:12 “So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom”
A wise person will know exactly how to account for their 24 hours every day. They will make the most of every hour they spend…
With their Lord in prayer, in His Word. These moments bring greater wisdom and the life of God into your life.
With their family, their children. These moments are priceless and bring meaning and significance to your life.
With your job, at work. Every day needs to be productively spent so you are not wasting your time and talents in the workplace.
Wise people understand what the will of God is and what the Lord has called them to do; how He has wired them up and getting along with others to carry out the Lord’s purposes.
The Bible says the beginning of wisdom is the fear (respect, value, honor) of God. If you always keep Jesus at the front and centre of your life, you will find wisdom there. You will always be in the right place at the right time.
Wisdom counts its days. Get to it. You don’t want to waste one of them!