TIME IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY

By Richard Baxter (1615-1691)


Time being man’s opportunity for all those works for which he liveth and which his Creator doth expect from him, and on which his endless life dependeth, the redeeming or well improving of it must necessarily be of most high importance to him.


Therefore, it is well made by holy Paul the great mark to distinguish the wise from fools. “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time” (Eph 5:15-16a). I shall therefore give you special directions for it, when I have first opened the nature of the duty to you and told you what is meant by time and what [is meant] by redeeming it.


Time, in its most common acceptation, is taken generally for all that space of this present life, which is our opportunity for all the works of life and the measure of them. Time is often taken more strictly for some special opportunity that is fitted to a special work, which we call the season or the fittest time. In both these senses, time must be redeemed.


As every work hath its season that must be taken, so have the greatest works assigned us for God and our souls some special seasons besides our common time.

l. Some times God hath fitted by nature for His service: the time of youth, health, and strength are specially fit for holy work.

2. Some time is made specially fit by God’s institution, such as the Lord’s Day above all other days.

3. Some time is made fit by governors’ appointment, such as the hour of public meeting for God’s worship and lecture-days,‘ and the hour for family worship, which every head of a family may appoint to his own household.

4. Some time is made fit by the tempers of men’s bodies: the morning hours are best to most, but some prefer the evening. And all prefer the time when the body is freest from pain and disabling weaknesses.

5. Some time is made fit by the course of our necessary, natural, or civil business: the day is fitter than the sleeping time of night, and that hour is the fittest wherein our other employments will least disturb us.

6. Some time is made fit by a special shower of mercy, public or private: when we dwell in godly families, among the most exemplary, helpful company, under the most lively, excellent means, the most faithful pastors, the most profitable teachers, the best masters or parents, and with faithful friends.

7. Some time is made fit by particular acts of providence: a funeral sermon at the death of any near us, or the presence of some able minister or private Christian whose company we cannot ordinarily have, or a special leisure, such as the eunuch had to read the Scripture in his chariot (Act 8:26-39).

8. And some time is made specially fit by the special workings of God’s Spirit upon the heart, when He more than ordinarily illuminateth, teacheth, quickeneth, softeneth, humbleth, comforteth, exciteth, or confirmeth. As time in general, so especially these seasons must be particularly improved for their several works: we must take the wind and tide while we may have it and be sure to strike while the iron is hot.

9. Some time is made fit by others’ necessities and the call of God: the time to relieve the poor when they ask or when they are most in want, or help to our neighbor when it will do him most good; to visit the sick, the imprisoned, and the afflicted in the needful season. Thus are the godly like trees planted by the riverside, which bringeth forth fruit in their season (Psa 1:3). So it means to speak in season to the ignorant or ungodly for their conversion or to be sorrowful for their consolation.

10. Our own necessity also maketh our seasons: the time of age and sickness is made by necessity the season of our special repentance and preparation for death and judgment.

11. The present time is commonly made our season, through the uncertainty of a fitter time or of any more.

These are our special seasons...