Ephesians 5:15-21

15: Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise,
16: making the most of your time, because the days are evil.
17: So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
18: And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,
19: speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;
20: always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father;
21: and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.

*** 

Paul cautioned the Ephesians to be careful—pay attention—to what they were doing and how they lived their lives. It mattered. We’re not here on earth to just idly bide time until we go to Heaven. Be wise and take control of your time. Make the most of it. Take ownership of your time. It is yours for you to manage. Don’t float through life accepting and participating in whatever comes your way. Walk in wisdom, discernment, and understanding.

Paul instructed them to make the most of their time because “the days are evil.” We must not let the evil of the times—brought to us in the daily situations of our lives—dictate how we live or respond. When we are in "evil" situations, or trying times, the way of escape may be to go through. How we go through is important. There will be times of testing to determine how we keep ownership of our time, even if restrictions or difficulties are placed on it.

Paul said not to be foolish, but to understand what the will of the Lord is. In every situation we are faced with—good or bad, easy or difficult—understand how He desires us to spend that time. Time is not to be wasted, but managed. Rather than getting drunk with wine—taking the fruit of our labors and God’s blessing to excess—be filled with the Spirit of God instead.

Be filled with His Spirit, not a worldly spirit or substance which does nothing but fill our time with wasted foolishness. The overflow of the Spirit is contrary to drunken excess. This overflow leads to joyful times of singing to the Lord, contrary to drunken songs of indulgence. One leads to life, and a fulfilling pursuit of our destiny. The other leads to death, and a wasted life of regret.

At all times and in all things, Paul said to give thanks to the Lord and God the Father. Then he began a discussion about being subject to one another in the fear of Christ, which we’ll look at tomorrow.

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