by Greg Neal

from Colossians 4:1-6

At the start of a new year, we often find ourselves setting goals for the coming months while reflecting on the progress of the past year. We prepare our calendars and add things to our schedules. Essentially, we are considering, “How will I use my time in the new year?”

Redeeming the time (vs. 5) means setting it free. Releasing time from captivity is making the best use of it.

This One More Thing… is not just a general admonishment concerning time; it is offered with the perspective of …them that are without,” meaning those outside the church and those who are not professing Christians. In other words, I need to make the best use of my time in relation to the lost and those living outside my “church world.” I must give consideration to my time—I must set it free—so that it can be best used in regard to those without.

Yes, we should give attention to and plan to spend time with those within. Activities and fellowships are beneficial. They edify, encourage, and strengthen the church. However, the reason our cities, communities, and neighborhoods are not being reached with the Gospel is that we are not redeeming the time with respect to those …that are without. All of our focus is on those within.

The truth of the matter is that the Gospel is not the problem. The church is not the problem. The issue is that we hold our time in captivity when we should be setting it free to make the best use of it for reaching those without.

Essentially, there are three groups when it comes to how people manage their time:

Group 1 consists of those who make no time for either those within or those without. This is the most poorly managed group and is entirely self-focused.

Group 2 includes those who make time for those within but make no time for those without. Unfortunately, this represents the majority of churchgoers.

Group 3 comprises those who make time for those without, even if it means sacrificing time for those within.

It is unfortunate that Groups 1 and 2 are often critical of Group 3. However, they should not be. Instead, they should set the goal of releasing their time from captivity and join the ranks of Group 3.

Immanuel Baptist Church is a Group 3 church. Our calendar reflects it, and our weekly schedule demonstrates it. This is why, in 2025, we are scheduling evangelistic meetings in towns that do not have Bible-preaching churches. The Group 3 members will thrive, while those unwilling to adapt from Groups 1 or 2 may not stay.

The pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church is a Group 3 pastor. This is why my schedule is packed (and still filling up) and why I am traveling to foreign countries to preach. Currently, I am scheduled to preach or teach 220 times in 365 days. This does not include all of the writing, radio broadcasts, upcoming podcasts, audiobook production, and more. Being in Group 3 is not for the faint of heart!

Where do we acquire the time? Must we cease all activities and fellowships? Should we cancel Sunday night services or midweek services? Do we sacrifice time with our families?
No.

The reality is that our time has been held hostage by entertainment, frivolous distractions, and external pursuits with little lasting value. We choose the work party over church fellowship. We choose sports over soulwinning. We skip Sunday School because we stayed up too late on Saturday. We neglect personal edification because we claim we just “have no time.” We have no time to read the Bible, pray, or do anything beyond the bare minimum. Yet, we find time for Instagram, Facebook, Netflix, and the NFL.

We are not only allowing entertainment to captivate the time meant for reaching the lost, but also the time meant for our families and those within the church. I am not advocating for cutting out all leisure or necessary rest—Scripture encourages taking rest when needed. Rather, I am advocating for what Paul wrote: that we release our time from captivity for the sake of those who are without.

Personally, I have learned that I cannot do everything I want to do or have done in the past. While I love to administrate, I recognize that in order to fulfill God’s calling for me in the coming years, I must delegate responsibilities to my trusted co-laborers. I have come to realize that I cannot handle all the counseling or attend every activity. While this transition has been difficult for me, even my church members have had to learn to “share” their pastor with others who also need his help.

While becoming a Group 3 person may seem like a monumental task, here are four actions from Colossians 4 that can help us accomplish this:

Discern your time and situation.

In other words, walk in wisdom. If making time for those without requires working two jobs to provide, then time should be intentionally allocated to what matters most. For caregivers, wisdom is needed to maintain balance and avoid neglecting other responsibilities. Any tasks that can be delegated should be, and time should be managed responsibly.

Continue in prayer.

Colossians 4:2 is a simple reminder not to neglect the basics. “Continue” implies that we have been praying and should keep on praying. Prayer is essential—not only does it keep us in constant conversation with the One who enables us to do all that God has for us, but it also reminds us to depend on Him when life becomes overwhelming. Our gratitude for all He has done and is doing in our lives should continually be reflected in our ongoing communication with our Saviour.

Pray for open doors.

Verses 3 and 4 encourage us to ask God for opportunities. Paul wrote these words from a prison cell, yet he was still seeking God to …open unto us a door of utterance, begging God to provide a way to share the Gospel. Paul didn’t let excuses, however legitimate they may seem, hinder his mission.

Make good use of the time you have.

When reaching those without, it is not just what we say, but how we say it that matters. In other words, a testimony of grace is necessary for God to use us to make a difference. Verse 6 reminds us that we should know how to answer. Our words can make or break the opportunity to reach those without.

As we add to our already packed schedules and wonder if we can “fit it all in” this year, let us not forget to focus on those without as we consider these things. We all can “redeem” time if we are honest with ourselves. Imagine what more God could do with our lives if we are willing to “set our time free” for those who are without!

Let this be the year when so many more of those who are without come within, because we purposefully redeemed our time from captivity to reach them.