In 2008, we bought our home and one of the first purchases we made after we got moved in was a new television. I was pretty excited about it too because it was bigger than the TV it was replacing. It was also a flat screen TV, which was pretty novel for the time. I couldn't wait to use it, and I actually felt a little protective of it.
I don't know how long I expected that TV to last, but a couple years after we bought it, it started making strange static noises. I didn't know how to correct that problem, so I just ignored it and hoped it would stop on its own. It didn't. In fact, soon after, it started to give off a strange smell. It was subtle, but I definitely noticed it.
Then that TV did something I never had a TV do before. As we were watching it one evening, it made the noise and gave off the smell, but then smoke started rising out of the back of the television. At that point, I unplugged it and contacted the manufacturer. They took a long time to respond, but eventually sent us a replacement TV.
While we were waiting to see if they were going to do anything, we decided to go buy a new TV. The television we bought was even larger than the one it replaced, and I was really excited to put it to use. I loved it at first, but in time, my perspective toward that TV began to change. We still own it, but at this point, I barely use it. A few years ago, I made the decision to purposely watch less TV so I could use that time in the evenings for conversation with my family, as well as reading, writing, and recording.
So now I have a big TV that gets turned on once or twice a week. It may last forever because it's rarely used. I'm using the time I used to spend watching it in more productive ways.
Have you ever taken a good look at how you're choosing to use your time? Do you think about how to make better use of the time you've been blessed with?
That's the kind of question I believe Paul wanted us to ask ourselves when he wrote Ephesians 5:15-21. Take a look at his suggestions as to how we as growing believers should be using the time we've been given.
I. Access and implement the wisdom of God
““Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.””
Do you understand the Lord's will for your life? God's will is one of the big questions many of us spend considerable time wondering about. Who should we marry? What career should we pursue? How should we invest? When should we retire? How should we use our retirement years? What kind of legacy should we leave for our children and grandchildren?
In this passage, Paul encourages us to understand what the will of the Lord is, but how is the will of God understood? There are two aspects to the will of God that we need to be aware of if we're going to understand how His will works. There are aspects of God's will that I think of as His "moral will" and other aspects that I typically call His "sovereign will."
God's moral will is very clear. It isn't mysterious at all. His moral will has been clearly revealed in His word. I don't have to wonder if it's God's will for me to steal because His word directly tells me not to steal. I don't have to wonder if it's God's will for me to be unkind because His word tells me to show mercy and compassion, just as those things have been shown to me by Jesus.
The part that tends to confuse many people is the sovereign will of God. We ask questions like, "Where does God want me to live?," or "Should I start a new career in this field?" Those are challenging questions to discern an answer to, but let me share something I have learned that has helped me greatly. If I'm not fighting God about listening to the counsel of His moral will, I also tend to find it much easier to discern His sovereign will. If the pattern of my life becomes one of listening to God's voice without resistance, I tend to hear Him clearer in all areas.
““Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.””
Paul told the Romans to stop conforming to this world's way of thinking and living, and to welcome the transformation of mind that the Holy Spirit accomplishes in the life of a believer. If they did so, they would be able to understand God's will more clearly. That's the same counsel he is giving to the church at Ephesus in Ephesians 5. He challenged them to avoid walking in foolishness and evil if they truly wanted to understand the will of God.
So how about us? Do we want to know God's will? Through faith in Jesus, we are given confident access to the Father. Through faith in Jesus, we are indwelled with the Holy Spirit. Through Christ, we have what we need in order to grow in grace and wisdom. Is that what we want to do, or is our time still primarily consumed with chasing after lesser things? Are we being entertained by foolishness, or enlightened by the wisdom of our Creator?
II. Live under the control of the Holy Spirit
““And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,” ”
Over the course of my life, I have discovered that many people have different opinions about drinking alcohol. Those opinions vary among Christians as well, and I'm regularly asked about my opinion, so I'll give you my honest thoughts on the matter (and please feel free to challenge me on these opinions if you feel differently).
I decided when I was 15-years-old not to drink alcohol any more. Prior to that, I was more than willing to drink it any time it was offered to me, but since that time it dawned on me that I couldn't think of a single good thing that could come into my life through consuming it. I could, however, list quite a few negative things that might happen if I welcomed it into my life.
I have friends and family members who have become severely addicted to it. I have seen marriages and lives destroyed because of it. I have one friend that directly died in a vehicle wreck after an evening of drinking. I have another friend whose life was thankfully saved after his stomach was pumped following a night of drinking. I know of a church about a half hour away that closed as the result of the chain of events that can be tied back to their pastor's drinking habits.
So, those are my thoughts on the matter. For me, it would be a violation of my conscience to drink alcohol. But whatever your opinions on the matter happen to be, even if they differ from mine, I think we can all agree that Paul gives good counsel when he encourages us not to get drunk. That's not a debatable matter. And the positive alternative to drunkenness that he gives us is to "be filled with the Spirit." What does he mean by that?
Another way to describe being filled with the Spirit is to be "controlled" by the Spirit. It's a manner of describing what it means to be under His influence. As a believer in Christ, I don't want to come under the influence of anything that might have the capacity to control me in a foolish or evil way. As my faith grows and I become more serious about my walk with Christ, I desire more passionately to live under the influence of the Holy Spirit.
Just consider for a moment what kind of impact living under the Spirit's influence and control will have on you? The examples Paul gives in this passage tell us that we will begin addressing one another differently. We'll speak to each other with grace and goodness. The fruit of the Spirit will be demonstrated in our lives.
And in addition to that, our mouths will express thanks to the Father for everything through the Son, Jesus Christ. This, by the way, is the recipe for a joyful and content life. It's a life that realizes that only Jesus can satisfy the deepest longings of the soul. And when our souls are satisfied in Christ, our mouths will express that contentment, peace, and joy.
III. Demonstrate your reverence for Christ in how you treat His bride
“ “submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.””
What does it take to become a good leader? That's a question I have often asked my children during times of family discussion, and I think an important aspect of that answer can be derived from Paul's counsel in this passage.
I don't think you can become a good leader if you don't first experience the process of allowing yourself to be led. I don't think you can lead well unless you are willing to answer to a higher authority that you're willing to be accountable to.
Christ is the head of the church. Each of us, as members of His body, should willfully submit to Him and show Him reverence. I don't think any of us would argue against that theologically, but admittedly, there are times when it feels much easier to go our own way or defer to our own counsel instead of submitting to Christ's leadership.
That's a struggle for us relationally as well. One of the things Jesus demonstrated to us during the course of His earthly ministry was a willingness to put the needs of others above His own comfort. Is that something we'd be willing to do for each other? Would we be willing to submit our preferences to the preferences of another brother or sister in Christ? Would we be willing to follow Christ's example in how we treated them?
One of the most powerful ways we can demonstrate our reverence for Christ is by how we choose to treat His bride. Scripture refers to the church as the bride of Christ. I have to tell you that as a husband, my response to you will be directly impacted by how you treat my bride. It would be wise to treat her well, if you know what I mean.
If we love Jesus, we should also love who He loves. He loves His church, and He wants each member of the church to love one another since we're united to Him and united to one another. Instead of cutting one another down, we're called to build one another up. Instead of elevating ourselves over each other, we're called to submit to one another. What matters to you should matter to me, and what matters to me should matter to you.
I have a group of good friends who demonstrate this really well. Every two months, we grab lunch together. In fact, that's what we did less than a week ago. Here's what I observed at that lunch. One of the guys owns a farm that he's converting into a retreat center. He invited each of us to stay, at his expense, when we need a break. Another friend paid for lunch for all six people. Two people brought books to share with others because they wanted to encourage them. Then all six of us took time to listen to what was going on in the lives of the other friends and to offer counsel or receive counsel when appropriate. At the end of it all, the last people to leave prayed together in the parking lot. It was a very good use of our time, and all of us grew a little stronger because of it. I think we demonstrate reverence for Christ by how we treat His bride.
Our earthly lives are relatively brief, and it's hard to make up for lost time. So with an eye toward our limited time, let's implement the counsel we're given in God's word. Let's make the best use of our time by embracing the wisdom of God, living under the control of His Spirit, and revering Christ by treating His bride well.
© John Stange, 2021
