Divine wisdom advises us:

“See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”
Ephesians 5:15,16

This advice invites us to see with prudence and intelligence how we have been so as not to be foolish. According to the dictionary, the fool is:

1. that or the one devoid of knowledge, discernment, stupid, ignorant.

2. that or the one with no aptitude or competence; incapable, inept.

The Word of God warns us not to live as ignorant but as wise, redeeming our time, that is, making the most of time without wasting it. The end of year time is very conducive to this. We need to use intelligence and weigh on the scale if our behaviours are worth it and if they bring us the results we want. So we decide what we should keep doing or not.

Examine the pride and the forgiveness you do not give to those who hurt you; this is the hard way to keep a list of those who hurt you. That doesn’t work for anyone. But forgiveness works.

Giving another example, you may conclude that in recent times, everything you do revolves around making money because you think it will bring the answers you need. So, all your choices are about making more money. The result of this is that maybe you have a better bank balance (MAYBE), but you have lost marriage, health, and communion with God. The money has become your god. As in the story of the rich man who had a great harvest and thought:

“So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.”‘ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?”
Luke 12:18-20

We see so many famous people, not to mention anonymous, young, rich, who had everything to live well, dying stupidly. And the question that remains is: where are their souls?

That’s why the Word of God warns us not to walk like fools, wasting time, but redeeming our time. This means understanding that time is our greatest wealth, greater than money.

If you don’t take wise actions, your life will only get worse and know that you will only have one person to blame: yourself.