Imagine living in the first century and going down to the local market to do some shopping. When you get down there, you find the “usual” — bread, fish, fruit, vegetables, clothes, perfumes, etc. Then, off to 
the side, you see that there is some “time” for sale — yes, “time” (not thyme). What would you do? Would you buy some “time”? How much would you buy?
A.T. Robertson, a Greek scholar, used this illustration in his comments on Colossians 4:5. Paul said, “Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.” Redeeming the time!
The expression means “to buy up for one’s self for one’s use”; in application, “to make wise and sacred use of every opportunity for doing good” (Thayer). And so, Robertson pictures this, “We all have the same time. Paul goes into the open market and buys it up by using it rightly.”
What are you doing with your time? Are you buying up all you can to use it for His good? If you don’t buy this minute right now and use it for Him, this minute will pass and cannot be recalled. When you enter the market every morning to buy time, what are you doing with it? — DS