How lovely God is Pt 12: Live wisely; avoid foolishness
Ephesians 5:15-20 15Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Live not as unwise but wise
What is wisdom? Wisdom, in Paul’s understanding, isn’t about cleverness or intellect; it’s about living in light of God’s truth. The Greek word for “careful” carries the sense of accuracy and precision—of watching one’s step with discernment and purpose. It’s as though Paul is saying, “Don’t stumble through life—walk with intentionality, guided by the Spirit.”
To live wisely means recognizing the moral and spiritual contours of the world we inhabit: “The days are evil.” In other words, the time we have is fleeting and filled with temptation. Wisdom involves not only moral integrity but also spiritual alertness. It requires a sober awareness that the surrounding culture often encourages the opposite of what pleases God. As in Proverbs, wisdom is not theoretical—it’s lived out in choices, speech, and relationships. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10), meaning that true wisdom begins when our hearts are aligned in reverence toward God.
Paul’s phrase “making the most of every opportunity literally means “redeeming the time.” It implies that every moment, every opportunity, can be rescued from meaninglessness when it’s devoted to Christ’s purposes. Wisdom redeems what might otherwise be wasted. That’s a radical call in an age of distraction, where time is easily squandered. To live wisely, then, is to invest time in what has eternal value—relationships, worship, prayer, service, and truth.
Consider Jesus’ parable of the wise and foolish builders. The wise man built his house upon the rock, hearing and doing Jesus’ words, while the foolish man built on sand (Matthew 7:24–27). The distinction wasn’t between those who heard the truth but those who acted upon it. Living wisely means integrating God’s truth into daily practice—building on solid rock.
So the wise life is neither hurried nor careless. It is deliberate, Spirit-led, and shaped by the awareness that our time on earth is a stewardship. Moses prayed, “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12). That prayer is as relevant today as it was in ancient Israel. It reminds us that wisdom grows out of humility and perspective—a recognition that our days are limited, but their impact can be eternal when lived under God’s guidance.
By understanding the Lord’s will
Here, the contrast is again between folly and wisdom. Foolishness is not mere ignorance; it’s the refusal to discern and align oneself with God’s revealed purpose. The wise person, by contrast, seeks to understand and submit to that will. Understanding God’s will doesn’t mean decoding secret plans or predicting the future. Rather, it’s about perceiving what pleases Him and walking in obedience to it. Earlier in Ephesians, Paul already stated that God’s will is “to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ” (Ephesians 1:10). Thus, the will of God is not primarily hidden—it is made known in Christ, revealed through Scripture, and illuminated by the Holy Spirit.
Romans 12:2 reinforces this idea: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.” Understanding God’s will requires a renewed mind, shaped not by culture but by Scripture. This transformation happens gradually as the Spirit applies truth to our hearts and consciences.
Understanding God’s will affects how we spend our time, how we treat others, and how we prioritize. God’s will is not abstract—it calls for holy living, humility, gratitude, and love. In 1 Thessalonians 4:3, Paul states plainly, “It is God’s will that you should be sanctified.” The wise person doesn’t chase every new opportunity but measures each one against God’s character and purpose. In a world of moral confusion and competing narratives, understanding God’s will gives clarity and stability. It anchors us amid chaos. Yet such understanding comes not by accident—it requires attentiveness to God’s Word, prayer, and a willingness to obey. Jesus modeled this perfectly: “My food,” He said, “is to do the will of Him who sent me and to finish His work” (John 4:34). To understand God’s will, then, is not simply intellectual; it’s relational . It grows out of love and devotion to the Father.
To live wisely is to cultivate this understanding daily—to let the Word dwell richly within (Colossians 3:16) and to seek first the kingdom of God (Matthew 6:33). Wisdom is not found by looking inward, but by looking upward—toward the One who holds all wisdom and who delights to reveal His will to those who seek Him with sincere hearts.
Being filled with the Spirit
The intoxication metaphor in v18 addresses a choice we all have to make--—between intoxication by worldly means and empowerment by the Holy Spirit. Both involve being under influence, but the results couldn’t be more different. The image of drunkenness represents loss of control, moral compromise, and spiritual dullness. To be “filled with the Spirit,” on the other hand, is to be under God’s influence—to have one’s life animated, directed, and renewed by His presence. The verb “be filled” indicates continuous action, meaning “keep on being filled.” It’s not a one-time event but a continual process of surrender and renewal.
Paul’s imagery invites reflection: what fills us, controls us. If we’re filled with anger, fear, or ambition, those forces will shape our behavior. But if we’re filled with the Spirit, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, and self-control flow naturally (Galatians 5:22–23). The Spirit does not compete for control; He fills the surrendered heart. To live wisely is inseparable from living Spirit-filled. We cannot walk carefully or discern God’s will apart from His empowering presence. The Spirit is both the guide and the strength for wise living.
The contrast between drunkenness and Spirit-filling also carries social and ethical implications. Drunkenness leads to escapism and disorder; the Spirit leads to purpose and order. Where the former numbs the senses, the latter awakens them to God’s glory. The Spirit-filled believer becomes a vessel of encouragement, integrity, and joy. To be filled with the Spirit, then, is not about emotional intensity but spiritual dependency. It’s a daily act of surrender—opening oneself to God’s transforming presence, allowing His Word to dwell richly, and being responsive to His promptings. Just as a sailboat moves when the wind fills its sails, the believer advances when the Spirit fills and directs his life.
And always giving thanks
Leading a life filled with the Spirit leads to a life of dependency and a life of gratitude. Gratitude, for Paul, is not a polite sentiment—it’s a defining mark of the Spirit-filled, wise believer.
Notice the scope of his command: always giving thanks, and for everything. That’s comprehensive and challenging. It means gratitude is not circumstantial but theological—it’s rooted in who God is, not what life currently looks like. Gratitude flows from the recognition that God works all things together for good to those who love Him (Romans 8:28). Even trials can be occasions for thanksgiving because they refine faith and draw us closer to Him (James 1:2–4).
Giving thanks “in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” means we express gratitude through the lens of Christ’s redeeming work. It is because of Jesus that we can be reconciled to God, filled with the Spirit, and live wisely in a broken world. Gratitude acknowledges dependence—it’s the posture of those who know they’ve received mercy.
The ungrateful heart, by contrast, breeds resentment and foolishness. In Romans 1:21, Paul describes the root of human rebellion: “Although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him.” Ingratitude blinds people to grace and opens the door to futility. Gratitude restores sight—it reminds us that every good and perfect gift comes from above (James 1:17).
To “always give thanks” is also an antidote to anxiety. Philippians 4:6–7 instructs believers: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Gratitude shifts focus from problem is to God’s promises, and peace follows.
In the end, to “live wisely” is to live gratefully. Every moment becomes an opportunity to recognize God’s grace, every breath a reason to give thanks. Such a life stands in stark contrast to the unwise—those who drift through life without discernment or joy. The wise, however, live purposefully, filled with the Spirit, guided by understanding, and overflowing with thanksgiving.
What about me?
Ephesians 5:15–20 paints a portrait of the Spirit-filled life—wise, discerning, joyful, and grateful. It’s not about retreating from the world but engaging it differently, through the lens of divine wisdom. The wise believer walks carefully, understanding that time is short but sacred. They seek God’s will, not their own. They are filled, not with fleeting pleasures, but with the enduring presence of the Spirit. And they give thanks—not occasionally, but always—because they know that in Christ, every circumstance can be turned into praise.
To live wisely, then, is to live awake—to see the world as God sees it and to walk in step with His Spirit. It’s a daily choice, sustained by grace and expressed through gratitude. In an age marked by haste, confusion, and complaint, the call to live wisely is both countercultural and urgently needed. May we, like Paul’s readers, learn to “walk carefully,” to redeem our time, and to let our lives become continual songs of thanksgiving to the glory of God.
Believer, the monks of the Middle Ages tried to leave society for a cloistered life in an attempt to find holiness and righteousness. They discovered their sin nature went with them. We do the same thing today ‘on the run’. We live lives of routine and chaos, coasting through life, avoiding God. This leads only to waste; please invite God into a fuller expression in your life.