To redeem our time in the model of our Redeemer , we must first know the Author of time , his purposes for the world , and what he has called us to do with the time he has given us .
William Wilberforce was easily one of the most productive people of all-time . He was elected to the British Parliament at the insanely young age of twenty-one . At a single point in time , he held official roles with sixty-nine different social reform groups in Great Britain . Oh yeah , and he was chiefly responsible for abolishing the slave trade throughout the British Empire . In the words of one of Wilberforce ’ s many biographers , “... it ’ s difficult to escape the verdict that William Wilberforce was simply the greatest social reformer in the history of the world .”
But Wilberforce wasn ’ t always productive to such noble ends . For his first five years in Parliament , his ambition was largely for the acquisition of more power and wealth . But at the age of twenty-six , the boy-king surrendered himself to the lordship of King Jesus , ushering in what Wilberforce called the “ Great Change ” of his life .
That great change in his soul almost led to a dramatic change in Wilberforce ’ s work . After his conversion , Wilberforce sought out career advice from his friend John Newton , the minister famous for writing the hymn Amazing Grace . Wilberforce fully expected Newton to advise him to drop out of Parliament so that he could “ live now for God .” But , “ Newton didn ’ t tell him what he had expected — that to follow God he would have to leave politics . On the contrary , Newton encouraged Wilberforce to stay where he was , saying that God could use him there . Most others in Newton ’ s place would likely have insisted that Wilberforce pull away from the very place where his salt and light were most needed . How good that Newton did not .” Indeed . If Wilberforce ’ s “ Great Change ” had led to a great change in his work , where would the world be today ? Certainly much further from God ’ s kingdom being “ on earth as it is in heaven .”( Mt . 6:10 , NIV )
But while Wilberforce ’ s “ Great Change ” didn ’ t lead to a change in what he did vocationally , his salvation did lead to two dramatic changes in how he worked in Parliament . First , the object of his work changed from the raw pursuit of wealth and power to what Wilberforce called his “ Great Object ”— the abolition of the slave trade . Second , and most relevant to the topic of this book , post-conversion Wilberforce dramatically changed how he managed his time .
In the days and weeks following his conversion experience , Wilberforce grieved over how he had spent his first twenty-six years on earth . One of his journal entries from this time reads “ I condemned myself for having wasted my precious time , and opportunities , and talents .” As Wilberforce ’ s biographer explains , “ Before ‘ the Great Change ,’ Wilberforce had reckoned his money and time his own , to do with as he pleased , and had lived accordingly . But suddenly he knew that this could no longer be the case . The Scriptures were plain and could not be gainsaid on this most basic point : all that was his — his wealth , his talents , his time — was not really his . It all belonged to God and had been given to him to use for God ’ s purposes and according to God ’ s will .”
Wilberforce was determined to redeem his time , working on behalf of God ’ s agenda rather
43