Holy life skills
This week is on Ephesians 5:15-20:
Paul is giving life advice in this chapter of his letter to the Ephesians. Before this, he talks about being open and honest, and about not being needlessly offensive. In these verses, he switches to what seems to be a quick talk about life choices and time management.
People often point to these verses as a way to condemn alcohol as evil, but that's not what's being said here. Jesus' first miracle was making wine at a party so that people could get drunk. He didn't do that as a trick so that he could turn around and condemn them. But alcohol is a great example of the worldly dangers Paul is talking about. It's easy to get caught by it.
When I have dreams that I'm drunk, it's usually God telling me that I'm being too caught in worldly concerns, that I'm "asleep", wasting time, distracted, etc. Alcohol slows the mind and body. Sometimes that's a good thing, and sometimes that's bad. In this case, Paul says that too much of it leads to debauchery, meaning to be split off from what you're supposed to be doing. You could get in a fight, say mean things, fall into sexual sin, shirk responsibilities, get in a car accident, etc, if you have too much. Other translations say it leads to "dissipation," which I imagine like a big balloon full of our day's potential being deflated. Is life's soundtrack cranked up too loud for you to hear that hissing sound? Paul is saying "Look, don't just spend all of your time getting drunk. Be smart and aware."
You might be thinking "well, I don't drink, so these verses don't apply to me." Alcohol isn't the only thing that dissipates and leads to debauchery. Maybe you watch too much tv. Maybe you're hung up on a girl. Maybe you eat big pasta meals and your evening is shot afterwards because of the massive food coma. Maybe you never exercise and it's affecting your health and your ability to concentrate. If you're going to have to be smart and aware and make the most of every opportunity, is spending every night parked in front of the TV the way to do it?
Paul says "the days are evil." I love that phrase! The days are evil! Picture the day as trying to steal your potential, ruin your mood, squander your wealth, and divide you from your support network and from God himself. If you think about it, that's pretty accurate. The day is going to steal your cheese! The day is going to make you fat and crippled! The day is going to make you old, one step at a time, until it's too late to do the things you need to do. So how do you do epic battle against this evil day?
Be wise, not foolish. How do smart people act? They're aware of everything and think things through. Are you in a place where you can do that? If not, how do you get there? Maybe you have to put the potato chips down and turn the tv off to find out.
Make the most of every opportunity. Are you in a place where you can do that? If someone needs your help, or you find that you want to give Bibles to people in a place where they are hard to find, can you do that? Or have you spent all of your money on comic books and cigarettes? Are you aware enough to recognize an opportunity when it arises? My friend Ben exemplifies this attitude. The other day, we were sat around outside chatting about life and he was like "We should pray, because if we don't it'll start raining and then we'll all forget." He recognized the opportunity and snatched victory from the jaws of the evil day.
Be filled with the Spirit, not just wine and pasta. How much time do you spend reading scripture and communing with God? As we've talked about previously, you can tell how filled you are by the output of your life and the degree to which you are humble and thankful. Do you offer yourself up to others? Do you consider them in your plans? Do you naturally draw them into a deeper connection with God? Do you find yourself in moments where you are so happy, and so relaxed, and so thankful for the simplest of things? If not, ask God to fill you up more with his Spirit.
Paul says to be careful how we live, but not just in a moral sense. His advice is practical and spirit-led. You're in epic battle against one evil day after another. Can you afford not to be in top shape for that? God offers us his Holy Spirit and the wisdom and strength to get the most out of each encounter. Do we want to win? Or will we let the world have anything it wants, as long as it leaves us our precious sugar, four hours of our favorite shows, and a warm spot on the couch?
Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul is giving life advice in this chapter of his letter to the Ephesians. Before this, he talks about being open and honest, and about not being needlessly offensive. In these verses, he switches to what seems to be a quick talk about life choices and time management.
People often point to these verses as a way to condemn alcohol as evil, but that's not what's being said here. Jesus' first miracle was making wine at a party so that people could get drunk. He didn't do that as a trick so that he could turn around and condemn them. But alcohol is a great example of the worldly dangers Paul is talking about. It's easy to get caught by it.
When I have dreams that I'm drunk, it's usually God telling me that I'm being too caught in worldly concerns, that I'm "asleep", wasting time, distracted, etc. Alcohol slows the mind and body. Sometimes that's a good thing, and sometimes that's bad. In this case, Paul says that too much of it leads to debauchery, meaning to be split off from what you're supposed to be doing. You could get in a fight, say mean things, fall into sexual sin, shirk responsibilities, get in a car accident, etc, if you have too much. Other translations say it leads to "dissipation," which I imagine like a big balloon full of our day's potential being deflated. Is life's soundtrack cranked up too loud for you to hear that hissing sound? Paul is saying "Look, don't just spend all of your time getting drunk. Be smart and aware."
You might be thinking "well, I don't drink, so these verses don't apply to me." Alcohol isn't the only thing that dissipates and leads to debauchery. Maybe you watch too much tv. Maybe you're hung up on a girl. Maybe you eat big pasta meals and your evening is shot afterwards because of the massive food coma. Maybe you never exercise and it's affecting your health and your ability to concentrate. If you're going to have to be smart and aware and make the most of every opportunity, is spending every night parked in front of the TV the way to do it?
Paul says "the days are evil." I love that phrase! The days are evil! Picture the day as trying to steal your potential, ruin your mood, squander your wealth, and divide you from your support network and from God himself. If you think about it, that's pretty accurate. The day is going to steal your cheese! The day is going to make you fat and crippled! The day is going to make you old, one step at a time, until it's too late to do the things you need to do. So how do you do epic battle against this evil day?
Be wise, not foolish. How do smart people act? They're aware of everything and think things through. Are you in a place where you can do that? If not, how do you get there? Maybe you have to put the potato chips down and turn the tv off to find out.
Make the most of every opportunity. Are you in a place where you can do that? If someone needs your help, or you find that you want to give Bibles to people in a place where they are hard to find, can you do that? Or have you spent all of your money on comic books and cigarettes? Are you aware enough to recognize an opportunity when it arises? My friend Ben exemplifies this attitude. The other day, we were sat around outside chatting about life and he was like "We should pray, because if we don't it'll start raining and then we'll all forget." He recognized the opportunity and snatched victory from the jaws of the evil day.
Be filled with the Spirit, not just wine and pasta. How much time do you spend reading scripture and communing with God? As we've talked about previously, you can tell how filled you are by the output of your life and the degree to which you are humble and thankful. Do you offer yourself up to others? Do you consider them in your plans? Do you naturally draw them into a deeper connection with God? Do you find yourself in moments where you are so happy, and so relaxed, and so thankful for the simplest of things? If not, ask God to fill you up more with his Spirit.
Paul says to be careful how we live, but not just in a moral sense. His advice is practical and spirit-led. You're in epic battle against one evil day after another. Can you afford not to be in top shape for that? God offers us his Holy Spirit and the wisdom and strength to get the most out of each encounter. Do we want to win? Or will we let the world have anything it wants, as long as it leaves us our precious sugar, four hours of our favorite shows, and a warm spot on the couch?
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