Ephesians 5:15-17 - Walk In Wisdom

Theword circumspectly is an interesting one. It comes from a word that means tolook around carefully. The idea is precision, accuracy, and thoughtful living.Paul is saying, “Pay attention to how you live. Walk carefully. Walk withpurpose.” The opposite would be walking carelessly—drifting through lifewithout direction, guidance, or forethought. The Christian life is notsomething we can leave to chance. It requires wise decisions and a sinceredesire to do the will of God. Theseverses connect closely with what Paul said just before in verse 14, where heurged believers to wake up. The picture is clear: Don’t walk through lifespiritually asleep. Open your eyes. Be alert. Make the most of the day God hasgiven you. Sadly, many professing Christians drift through life like spiritualsleepwalkers. They rarely pause to consider how God might want to use them orhow their daily choices matter for eternity. Paul gives us several reasons whywe should walk carefully and wisely. First,it is a mark of wisdom. Paul says, “See then that you walk circumspectly, not asfools but as wise.” A fool simply drifts with the wind and the tide. A wiseperson charts a course, sets a direction, and steers accordingly. Just as abuilder plans before constructing a house, believers should be intentionalabout how they live their lives. We may not know what tomorrow holds, but aplanned life is far better equipped to deal with unexpected events. Walkingwisely means knowing where you’re going and why. Second,life is short.Verse 16 tells us to redeem the time, or literally, buy up the opportunity. Theidea is to seize the moments God gives us while we can. Opportunities arefleeting. Once they pass, they may never return. Our English word opportunitycarries the picture of a ship catching the wind and tide to reach the harbor.Life moves quickly, and Scripture repeatedly reminds us of its brevity. Thatreality should motivate us to use our time wisely for the Lord. Third,the days are evil.When Paul wrote these words, persecution was looming on the horizon.Opportunities to serve Christ and reach the lost would not always be available.If the days were evil then, they certainly are today. Sin advances, hearts growharder, and doors can close quickly. That is why we must not waste theopportunities God places before us. At the same time, because the days are evilthere will be more confusion and chaos which will produce more brokenness inour relationships and lives. This means that even more opportunities will bearound us to share the love and truth of Jesus with! Fourth,God has given us a mind. Verse 17 says, “Therefore do not be unwise, butunderstand what the will of the Lord is.” Understanding God’s will is not amystical experience that bypasses clear thinking. God expects His children touse their minds. As Romans 12 tells us, God transforms us by the renewing ofour minds. Through His Word, prayer, meditation, and worship, we learn to thinkbiblically and discern wisely. God does not merely want us to know His will—Hewants us to understand it. That involves gathering facts, weighing decisions,and praying for wisdom, as James reminds us. Finally,God has a plan for our lives. Scripture teaches that we are God’sworkmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works which He preparedbeforehand. God saves us with purpose. He reveals His plan through His Word,through the inner leading of the Holy Spirit, and through circumstances that Heorchestrates for our good. Because God has a plan, we can walk carefully andconfidently. Like a builder following a blueprint, we align our lives with whatthe Master Architect has designed. MayGod help us not to drift, but to walk wisely—redeeming the time, understandingHis will, and living each day with purpose for His glory. Godbless you, and I trust you have a wonderful, wonderful day.