Walk as Wise
by Edwin Crozier
Text: Ephesians 5
Outside of Christ, we Gentiles walked in the futility of our minds. That is, we followed our own think-sos, pursuing the desires of our flesh and minds (see Ephesians 2:3). In Christ, instead of walking in futility, we are to look carefully how we walk, as those who are wise walk.
Fools don’t watch where they are going. They skip along in haste, allowing their minds to wander and their sight to get distracted. This is a great way to get tripped up or, worse, to end up in the wrong place. Those who walk in wisdom pay attention to both the path they walk and the direction they are going. As Proverbs 14:16 says, “One who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is reckless and careless” (ESV). Or as twice repeated in Proverbs, “The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it” (Proverbs 22:3; 27:12 ESV).
Those who walk in wisdom pay careful attention to five aspects of their lives.
#1: They pay careful attention to their time
The wise make the best use of their time, or as other translations say, they redeem the time. The point here is not so much about fitting as much into a day as possible. Rather, they realize they aren’t promised tomorrow. Therefore, as James 4:13-17 also teaches, they don’t put off until tomorrow what they can do today.
#2: They pay careful attention to their directions
Instead of walking according to the futility of their own best thinking (see Ephesians 4:17), they pay careful attention to the will of the Lord. They don’t follow their own wants; they follow God’s wants. Or perhaps the better way to say it is they grow to want what God wants.
#3: They pay careful attention to what influences them
In this point, Paul makes a contrast not merely between behaviors, but I think between worship. He contrasts Gentile drinking parties and Christian worship gatherings. When Gentiles gather together, they drink and let the liquid spirits govern their behavior. This leads to dissipation and debauchery. When Christians gather, they are filled with the Spirit. But be aware, Paul explains how that filling happens. They are filled with the Spirit by the way they worship, by singing to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. They sing, making the melody in their heart. In Christian worship, the Christians themselves have become the instruments of praise. But in all of this, those in Christ are carefully paying attention to what influences them.
#4: They pay careful attention to who gets the credit
The wise understand who is really responsible for the victory in their lives. They do not bring their accomplishments to God expecting accolades. Rather, they see their victories as the work of God in their lives. Therefore, they come to Him to give thanks for the direction He has given, the strength He provides, the victory He has won.
#5: They pay careful attention to their relationships
The wise submit to each other out of reverence for Christ. The wise don’t line up in a pecking order out of reverence for social status, wealth, fame, knowledge, power, etc. Rather, because they see each other in Christ, they honor Christ by submitting to each other. This, of course, takes us right back to walking in love. The wise put others first. Instead of demanding their own rights and wants, they serve each other in love.
We are to walk in a manner worthy of the call to the one body God has given to both Jews and Gentiles. While this doesn’t mean we Gentiles have to become Jews, it does mean we can no longer walk the way we did when we were merely Gentiles. We must no longer walk in alienation from the life that is in God, but instead walk in love. We must no longer walk in darkened understanding, but in light. We must no longer walk in the futility of our minds, but in wisdom. Let us by the power and grace of God walk in these good works He has created for us.
Praise the Lord!
