Walking In Wisdom
Ephesians 5:15-21 NKJV
15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another in the fear of God.
The book of Ephesians is loaded with revelation and wisdom. Some consider it one of the best of Paul’s epistles. Others look to Romans, but fortunately, we don’t have to choose; we can read and feed on both.
This fifth chapter is full of practical Christian living instruction. Being imitators of God as children. Walking in love as Christ loved us. What to put away from our lives, and Paul goes strong on these instructions. The encouragement to walk in the light because we are children of light in the Lord. How husbands and wives are to treat one another. It is interesting to note that Paul does not spend a great deal of time talking about marriage. Maybe walking in love as Christ loved us and following Paul’s inspired instructions, in verses 22-33, could cover most issues. Verse thirty- three instructs men to love their wives as they love themselves and wives to respect their husbands. That would solve a lot of marriage stuff. But I digress.
In our verses for today, Paul encourages the believers to walk circumspectly. A more current word would be accurately or carefully, not as fools but as wise. I don’t ever think Paul was intending to hurt when he said don’t walk as a fool. I am thinking he was simply being matter of fact. And here was the first step of walking in wisdom: redeeming the time. The NASB says, making the most of your time. Other translations speak of buying up every opportunity. Or making the most of every opportunity because the days are evil. If the days were evil, then we can say that the days are still evil now. Evil, taking into account the moral and spiritual sense of the word. We live in a fallen world; we can’t misuse our time.
Another way we walk in wisdom is to understand what God’s will is for us. Paul made this a part of his prayers for the churches, that they would be filled with the knowledge of God’s will. The more we understand of God’s will for us the wiser we are. We can go to His Word to understand, and we have the help of the Holy Spirit to teach us and guide us into God’s will. We can be encouraged that it’s the will of God for us to know His will for our lives.
Another path of wisdom is to be filled with the Holy Spirit, as opposed to being filled with wine. We get filled speaking in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. We sing and make melody in our hearts to the Lord. This can involve singing worship songs we know and also expressing our hearts to God through the Psalms and the songs the Lord can give us. Add to that giving thanks always for all things and submitting to one another, and we are on our way to being truly Spirit-filled. If we really stop and think about it, worshipping God, singing to Him, thanking Him and submitting to one another are the actions of someone filled with something of God. The world certainly will not inspire us to act that way.
Walking in wisdom is not a function of education or intellect. Walking in God’s wisdom starts with a heart of obedience to Him and a willingness to yield to His Word and ways.
Prayer
Lord, I purpose to walk in wisdom during my time here on earth. It will honor You and be a blessing to my life.