Off the Treadmill - God's Moment!

The greek word for 'time' in Ephesians 5:16 is 'kairos'.

 ¹³But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. ¹⁴Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.¹⁵See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,¹⁶Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. (Ephesians 5:13-16)

According to EW Bullinger in his Companion Bible, Appendix 195, defines two words for time:

1. chronos, time, duration unlimited unless defined;
2. kairos, a certain limited and definite portion of chronos, the right time or season;

I am so excited this morning because this distinction has brought clarity to something I practically have known for a while. 'Kairos' is an opportunity; 'chronos' is the continuum of time.  I always thought this verse meant 'get busy!' and that may very well be a small part of it.  Greek is a specific language so there is difference between kairos and chronos even though they are both translated as 'time'.  So often we schedule ourselves into a busy lifestyle with good intentions, 'burning the rubber on the road' without producing the results we would expect for all that activity.  So how is that 'redeeming the time'?


I found another usage of 'kairos'  in Galatians 6:10 in the word 'opportunity'.

As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. 

This shows the focus on quality of the moment, rather than the tick tock motion of time. It makes perfect sense to me that the opportune moment from God is the most fruitful moment! These types of moments are acquired (notice I did not say 'achieved'). One can't 'work' for opportune moments, they are provided by believing grace.


We are to grab those moments, open doors, opportunities and make the most of them, not backing away nor overdoing them. There is a season for action, (remember the Pete Seeger song? or better yet how about Ecclesiastes 3:1ff) a time to "Turn, Turn, Turn".  Nothing is static and when an opportune turn shows up, seizing the moment and making the most of it is what we need to do. Time in 'redeeming the time' is the 'moment of God'. The more and more one understands God and believes, these moments pop up everywhere! It is not conditional on your station in life, or your career choice; it is about knowing and believing. This kind of time is certainly not mundane or boring. It is exciting!