August 1, 2004

God’s Method For Managing Our Lives

Ephesians 5:15-18

“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.” (NIV)

We all wonder if we really can make a difference in our world. We want to have an impact and be positive agents of change. The most important aspect in all of this is wishing to please God. We try to please others, and when we make that our goal we have set ourselves up for discouragement. Pleasing people is a prescription for disappointment.

Verse 15 tells us to be very careful about how we live. If we are going to be careful about our lives, there are some things we must do. A part of careful living would include examining where we are today. Periodically business owners have to take inventory. It is a necessity. You cannot see where you need to be until you understand where you are right now.

We are told in the verse to be wise, applying Scriptural knowledge to specific situations. Wisdom is the applying of God’s truth to our present day situations. This wisdom from God enables us to do what we are commanded to do in verse 16, make the most of every opportunity.

We must walk carefully, and redeeming the time does this. The idea is not to buy back time. Time is a gift from God. We all have time. What we are to do is to use time to invest in things of value. In order to use our time wisely, we must not waste time. The choice is ours as to how we use our time. A person is to use their time by taking advantage of the opportunities that arise throughout the day. We are to buy up the opportunities. Note why we are to redeem the time: because the days are evil. This refers to the evil that is constantly around us. It is both small and great, and it will tempt us to get sidetracked from doing God’s will.

This would be a great time to ask ourselves, “How do I waste my time?” It will be more difficult for us to find God’s will and to seize the opportunities if we go along wasting hour after hour, not even seemingly aware of the fact that opportunities surround us. Let me define opportunity for you. “Opportunity is a God-given moment of decision and action.” Let me also define redeeming the time: “It not only has a sense of buying back the time, but also of seizing the moment.”

There are certain things that verse 17 reminds me of as well. The first would be that it is foolish to not want to find God’s will. This verse also tells me that I can know God’s will. By inference, I also come to understand that finding God’s will is a lifelong pursuit. The unwise person is a person who does not understand what the Lord’s will is, and the wise person is the one who does understand what God’s will is. The word understand means to grasp, perceive, see with the mind and comprehend. To take hold of something is to lay hold of it so as to make it one’s own, literally to grasp firmly.

Ephesians 5:18 “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.” (NIV)
The word translated “debauchery” is the same word used to describe the prodigal son’s downfall (Luke 15:13). Don’t get your stimulus from wine, but let the spirit fill your soul. The imperative mood of the verb indicates that “be filled with the Spirit” is not an option, but is a command for all Christians. The present tense suggests a continuous, ongoing, perpetual filling of the Spirit. The phrase could be translated “go on being filled with the Holy Spirit.” He is not calling for those who have already been sanctified.

To be filled with the Holy Spirit is to submit our lives to the full influence and control of the Spirit who is at work within us. It is to fully cooperate with the transforming work of God’s grace so that we might be “filled with all the fullness of God.” The result of living under the influence and control of the Spirit is a growing Christlikeness. Christian experience should lead to Christlike conduct. The aspiration to love God and others brings a sense of meaning and purpose to our lives.

Principle #1 Understand What God’s Will is: (v.17)

There are several verses that tell us what God’s will is for our lives. Let us look at a few of them:

Matt 6:33: “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (NIV)

It was C. S. Lewis who said, “Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you will get neither.” Therefore, it is God’s will that you and I seek God’s Kingdom and His righteousness.
John 6:40: “For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day." (NIV)

It is God’s will that we come to Christ and experience eternal life.

1 Timothy 2:3-4: “This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” (NIV)

It is God’s will that we are saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.

1Thessalonians 4:3: “It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality.” (NIV)

It is God’s will that we should be sanctified.

1Thessalonians 5:18: “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.” (NIV)

It is God’s will that we should give thanks always. One could find many more verses that communicate various aspects of God’s will for our lives. Suffice to say that we have more than enough direction from the Bible that helps us to seek and find God’s will for our lives.

We must all seek to be living in a manner that pleases God. God’s will is made plain to us through His Word, but we must decide that we are going to live according to God’s Word and His will.