Don’t you hate forgetting or losing a store coupon? Maybe you couldn’t find the coupon in your purse or billfold when the sales attendant checked you out. A lost or unredeemed coupon is a lost gift. Although it can’t be redeemed for cash, some people think the lost dollar-off or discount coupon is money thrown away.
Man, you could’ve paid $25.00 less for that dress!
As savvy consumers, we love coupons from clothing departments, supermarkets, restaurants, and other businesses. Buy-one-get-one or BOGO coupons are great! The greater the percentage off, the better, right?
We must present the coupons before the expiration date when purchasing specified products. Many of the coupons are not only redeemable in-store but also online.
The other day I redeemed a CVS Pharmacy coupon and received a reduction in the amount due.
In today’s economy, every little bit counts.
The purpose of redeeming discount coupons is to pay less. Who doesn’t want to receive the same value but pay less for it?
The Bible speaks about redeeming something more gratifying, beneficial, and important than discount or reward coupons.
God’s word encourages and reminds us to redeem our time.
Maybe you’ve heard people say, “I have all the time in the world” to do this or that. Perhaps you’ve said it yourself at one time or another; I have.
Do they? Do we have all the time in the world?
Imagine that time is a coupon with an expiration date, and we all have one. Don’t worry; you can’t lose this coupon. It’s impossible to lose it because God has it.
In this time-coupon analogy, we redeem or cash in our time as we go about our daily lives. We often say that time flies, and we want to know where did the time go? Some want more time in the day.
Colossians 4:5 (KJV) says, “Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.”
What does redeem the time mean?
Ephesians 5:15-16 (NIV) also talks about redeeming the time. Both biblical references encourage us to use time wisely and take advantage of every opportunity to do what Is good, just, and right toward others.
Time is an earthly gift coupon from God with an expiration date that only He knows. If we use our gifted time to love and honor God by loving each other, we redeem the earthly time for eternity and a heavenly home.
What an exchange!
Cha-ching!
Cash me in!
Hold up! Not too fast, all at the right time, right?
With breath in our nostrils, we still have time to do good in these evil days.
There is plenty of good for you and me to do on earth, but we don’t have all the time in the world to do it. But if we are wise, we will trust and obey God’s word.
Matthew 7:12 (KJV) says, “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.”
Christians and other religious groups refer to Matthew 7:12 as the Golden Rule.
We want to exchange or cash in our time or a life well-lived in fear and obedience to God for a heavenly home with Him.
These words written in the Old Testament apply to us today as they applied to Israel then and now.
“And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.” (Deuteronomy 10:12 KJV)
Time used is time redeemed. May we redeem all of our time with good thoughts and deeds.
Stay safe.