It is said that the great American preacher Jonathan Edwards would often spend 13 hours a day in his study. Picture him, if you can, towards the close of 1734, there in the parsonage at Northampton, New England. He is 30 years old, the father of four little girls, one born the previous spring. Outside, no doubt, there is snow. It is at least very cold. Already there have been some touches of revival and word is spreading of the stirring preaching of the late Solomon Stoddard's grandson.
The great preacher's thoughts are turned to the coming year. As ever, a pen is in his hand and he is committing his thoughts to paper. His text is Ephesians 5:16 on Redeeming the time. The resulting discourse eventually appeared under the heading The preciousness of time and the importance of redeeming it and is in the second volume of Edwards' works. It is a fitting subject for us to consider at the turn of yet another year over 260 years later.
The discourse has five main sections with further subdivisions.
1. He begins by noting how precious time must be, giving reasons why
• An eternity of happiness or misery rests on how we make use of time.
• Time is short. Life passes by so quickly. There is little time and a great deal to do if we are to be saved.
• We cannot be sure how much longer it will continue. We do not know how much time remains. We cannot guarantee the next breath. In the coming year many will die even though as yet they have no inkling of it.
• Once passed it cannot be recovered. You can replace or recover many things that are lost, but not time. Once time is lost, it is lost forever. When we die, all the time we will ever have is gone. With the loss of money, even if we are bankrupt, there is the possibility of making it up again but once time is gone, that is it. There is no further opportunity.
2. In this light he calls on us to consider the past Already for many the sun is past its meridian. For some it is about to set. What precious moments, hours, days, years, have been wasted. How much could have been done - for God, for our souls, in the years gone by! Think of the leisure time wasted. Think how many Lord's Days have gone by unimproved. We have reason to feel guilty at our profligacy.
3. He then targets particular sins associated with time wasting time
• Idleness. He is able to quote several Proverbs against this attitude and the New Testament exhortation to hard work in Ephesians 4:28.
• Wickedness. An appropriate Scripture here, not quoted by Edwards, is the striking 1 Peter 4:3, For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do - living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry.
• Worldly pursuits to the neglect of the soul. If we spend our days and hours thinking only of fame and fortune in this world we are neglecting our souls to our great detriment.
4. He then exhorts us to make good use of what time we have left. Further considerations encourage this.
• You are accountable to God for the way you spend your time. In Thomas Brooks' words, 'Time is not yours to dispose of as you please; it is a glorious talent that men must be accountable for as any other talent.' Edwards reminds us of Matthew 12:36 and how the Lord holds us responsible for every idle word.
• You have wasted much time already. 1 Peter 4:3 is again relevant. A consideration of the time already spent reminds us that opportunities are now more limited, the workload greater than ever and the best of our lives already gone. Such thoughts should not lead to despair but redoubling of effort to make use of what time remains.
• How valuable some consider time when they come to the end of it. He does not mention Rousseau but it is well known that on his death bed he offered his doctor a fortune if his life could be preserved just six months longer.
• How much value those who are past its end put on time. He pictures those in hell who would dearly love to have even a few moments here on earth again. He recognises that experience is probably a better teacher here than he can hope to be but the problem is that when experience has taught its lesson, it is too late.
5. He concludes with three positive pieces of advice
• Use the present time without delay. Like the psalmist (119:60) we must make haste to obey. There is no profit in delay.
• Use those parts of time that are most precious, especially. He distinguishes holy time from common time as more precious. We must especially make good use of the 52 Lord's Days of 1999 should God spare us. Young people must not let their youth slip by without making the best of their opportunities. He calls on all to Seek the Lord while he may be found and call on him while he is near (Isaiah 55:6). Now is the acceptable time, now is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2).
• Use your leisure time. Do not waste the spare time you have in idle pursuits. Make the most of your opportunities to draw near to the Lord in this coming year and may God bless you in every way.
This new year article first appeared in Grace Magazine
