ON A DIFFERENT PATH
Ephesians 5:15-21 CSB
15 Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk—not as unwise people but as wise— 16 making the most of the time, because the days are evil. 17 So don’t be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18 And don’t get drunk with wine, which leads to reckless living, but be filled by the Spirit: 19 speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music with your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another in the fear of Christ.
The fifth chapter of Ephesians delves into how we are to live as new creations in Christ. Note that Paul, who was writing by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, never instructs the church at Ephesus to try or make a gallant attempt to do what he instructs. He is telling them to do what he knows they have the capacity for. We can grow in all these areas that are listed but start with the bedrock belief that none of these things are beyond our reach.
Paul encourages the church to walk as wise people, not as unwise or foolish people. There is a difference between being wise and being educated. One can be wise with no education or educated, but have no wisdom. The wisdom Paul is referring to is spiritual, godly wisdom that is available to everyone regardless of educational background or access.
One of the first principles of godly wisdom that Paul wrote of was making the most of the time because the days are evil. Godly wisdom uses time well and is aware of the evil spiritual environment that prevails in this age. I don’t believe anyone would argue that time is precious, and yet so much of our time is taken up with things that have no value and produce nothing good in us. The internet can be a tool for good or evil; it’s what we do with it that is the determining factor. But one area where the internet is masterful is as a distraction, a stealer of time. I am not advocating for an internet ban, just a prudent use of this tool.
Paul wrote that we are to not live on the level of ignorance as it pertains to knowing God’s will. This is encouraging. The will of God for our lives is obtainable. And we don’t have to wait to gain this knowledge by circumstances alone. We can go to God and ask. Paul’s prayer for the Colossians in the first chapter was that the church would be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding Colossians 1:9. This is a prayer we can pray for others and for our own lives. The more we know of God’s will for us, the more we live in a manner worthy of the Lord.
Paul then offers some different wisdom. Wisdom that, when applied, produces a different way of living. Don’t get drunk with wine. Intoxication with wine can lead to reckless living as self-control is compromised. So, the wisdom of God is being filled with the Spirit of God. One of the ways that this occurs is speaking psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in our hearts to the Lord. You may have experienced this being filled during a time of praise and worship. But we can also sing and make music in our hearts to the Lord in our private lives. We can read psalms out loud as a way of praising God. And the Holy Spirit can give us spontaneous songs or poems that bless us, and when shared, can bless others. A beautiful thing about being filled with God’s Spirit, as opposed to wine, is that the aftereffects are not negative. No hangovers and no problems driving a vehicle.
Another function of godly wisdom and being filled with the Spirit is giving thanks in all things. Not thanking God for the problems and misery, but thanking Him for His help and strength, that enables us to move past problems and misery. There is so much wisdom in giving thanks to God. Giving thanks positions us well in life as we acknowledge God and His grace in our lives. If you ever wonder what to do in order to be in God’s will - give thanks. It’s always appropriate, not always easy. That’s why the writer of Hebrews called giving thanks a sacrifice of praise to God. Giving thanks always will always put us on a different path, the path of godly wisdom.
And the last bit of godly wisdom is that we submit to one another in the fear of the Lord. This does not mean you get to tell me what to do and vice versa. But it does mean that in our positioning toward one another, we are not angling for power or leverage. We are not looking for an advantage but looking to be a blessing. And that will put us on a vastly different path than the dark, selfish world we live in.
God’s wisdom is higher and better than the world’s system. Not easier but better, and with better fruit, better results.
PRAYER
Lord, show me more of how to walk in Your wisdom and in Your will. I choose the different path, not because it’s easier, but because it’s better.