Ephesians 5:15-21: Wise Living
15 BE CAREFUL HOW YOU WALK
16 MAKE THE MOST OF EVERY OPPORTUNITY
17 UNDERSTAND THE LORD'S WILL (STUDY THE GOSPEL I SUBMIT YOUR PLAN TO HIS PLAN)
WE MUST NEVER FORGET THE TRUE MEANING OF OUR BEING SANCTIFIED WHICH IS THE CONTINUAL BENDING OF OUR, HUMAN WILL TO HIS DIVINE WILL.
18 WE ARE COMMANDED TO BE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT
19-21 WHAT CHARACTERISTICS SHOW THAT FILLING?
(MAKING MELODY WITH OUR HEART TO THE LORD/THANKING GOD FOR ALL THINGS IN JESUS' NAME/SUBMITTING TO ONE ANOTHER IN RESPECT FOR CHRIST)
WHY IS OUR ACCEPTANCE OF GOD'S SOVEREIGNTY
OVER ALL THINGS ESSENTIAL FOR GIVING THANKS TO HIM (VERSE 20)?
ROMANS 8:28 IS THE KEY IF WE UNDERSTAND WHICH PURPOSE IS PRIMARY.
We see three contrasts inside chapter 5 of our study in Ephesians. They are:
LOVE WITHOUT LUST (1-7)
LIGHT OVER DARKNESS (8-14)
WISDOM CORRECTING FOLLY (15-20)
In the wisdom phase we see two clear thoughts for our instruction. The first is in verses 15-16 and seems to be a call to wisdom over living .in folly. It begins with a knowledge of God and a moving away from all that displease God. Paul took this teaching directly from Job 28:28:
" ... Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding".
Wisdom is that outlook which enables a believer to face life, to make sense of it, and to overcome its problems. Overcoming means making moral choices while living in a hostile society. A byproduct of living well toward God is the stewardship of our time, which is G6d's priceless commodity gift. We are to invest our energies effectively in efforts that are worthwhile.
The second phase is a call to self understanding. Here Paul seems to assure us that as men and women living inside our fellowship with the Lord, we then discover the path to wise living. Verse 18 brings a specific warning as to one thing that is unwise, which is intoxication. Rather than be filled with wine, we are to fill ourselves with the Spirit.
The idea here is that we must give much thought to our potential choices before we make them. When we are properly cautious, we take the time to think carefully about our choices, to lower the risk of harming us or others.
Paul has already defined for us in 1:9-10 God's will as the union of all things in heaven and earth under Jesus. Understanding the will of the Lord then means we emphasize the church's need to be united in truth and love. Those who are foolish, meaning those who misunderstand God's will (verse 17) seek to divide the body and engage in the impure acts Paul warns us against in chapters 4-6. Wise people who love the Lord's will promote Christian unity and submit to the principles for sanctified living found in Ephesians.
Holiness and the pursuit of God's will must be displayed in God's people, not falsehood, sexual immorality, theft, coveting, or foolishness. Such ungodliness leads finally to destruction while Spirit filled love, truth, and goodness strengthen us in Christ.
