Ephesians: Walking in Wisdom
Notes
Transcript
Good morning, everybody. I’m glad you’re here today. We’re going to spend some time together in God’s Word, and I believe the Lord has something special for each one of us. The passage we’re going to study today is only three verses long, but it packs a punch. The Apostle Paul wrote these words to a group of believers in the city of Ephesus and other churches almost two thousand years ago, but they feel like they were written for us this very morning. Paul is talking about how we live—how we walk—day by day. He says we need to walk with wisdom, seize every second, and understand God’s will. That’s our roadmap for today.
There’s one thing every single one of us has in common. We’ve all made decisions we wish we could take back. Maybe you saw an ad on TV for a gadget that promised to make life easier—four easy payments of $19.95—and you thought, “This is it!” Only to find out it was junk that broke the first time you used it. Or maybe it was a relationship that looked exciting at first, but it pulled you away from God and the people who love you, and it left you heartbroken. Or perhaps it was a job that sounded perfect—great money, big title—but it meant traveling five days a week and missing your kids’ games, your spouse’s birthday, and Sunday worship. Those choices weren’t necessarily sinful in the strict sense. But they were unwise. They cost us time, money, peace, and closeness with God.
Paul is going to challenge us today to stop drifting and start walking on purpose. He says a follower of Jesus makes wise decisions that reflect God’s will and spill over into a life of worship and love. Last week we talked about walking in the light. We learned that the ways of the world are dark and keep us in bondage. But Jesus is the light. When we trust Him as Lord and Savior, He shines on us, and we become children of light. Our attitudes and actions start to change. Today Paul moves from the “what” of following Jesus to the “how.” Let’s look at three simple but life-changing instructions.
15 Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk—not as unwise people but as wise—16 making the most of the time, because the days are evil. 17 So don’t be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.
First, Paul says we should walk with wisdom.
15 Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk—not as unwise people but as wise—
The little word “then” is huge. It means “therefore.” Paul is saying, “Because of everything I’ve already told you—because you’ve been saved by grace, because you’re a new creation, because you’re called to live worthy of that calling—pay careful attention to how you walk.” Walk means the way you live every single day. Paul says don’t live like unwise people; live like wise people.
Imagine you’re hiking on a narrow mountain trail. One side is a beautiful view; the other side is a steep drop-off. You don’t stroll along staring at your phone. You pay careful attention to every step. That’s what Paul is talking about. Careful doesn’t mean scared or anxious. It means intentional. You look where you’re going, you check the map, you ask the guide. The guide is Jesus, and the map is the Bible.
Many folks walk through life without a clue. They bounce from one thing to the next—new job, new hobby, new relationship—hoping something will finally make them happy. But without God’s direction, it’s just detour after detour. Paul says believers have purpose. Jesus loves us and wants the best for us. He also expects us to follow His commands. We’re not supposed to drift with the current; we’re supposed to move ahead under God’s direction.
God gives us wisdom when we give our lives to Him.
27 As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you don’t need anyone to teach you. Instead, his anointing teaches you about all things and is true and is not a lie; just as it has taught you, remain in him.
We are transformed by His Spirit living in us and have access to the wisdom that can only come from God, but we have to be willing to grow in that wisdom as God works in us. Wisdom isn’t about being the smartest person in the room. It’s about fearing the Lord—respecting Him enough to obey Him.
We should seek wisdom as we grow as Christians and ask God for it daily.
5 Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God—who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly—and it will be given to him.
When we walk wisely, our lives start to look different, and people notice. They see peace where there should be panic, kindness where there should be anger, generosity where there should be greed.
Being wise means asking the right questions about decisions we need to make. We should ask what is the wise thing to do? We know that doing anything sinful is not wise, so we can scratch those choices off the list. But what about those things that aren’t necessarily as sin, but might not be the best choice for us? Paul said that some things others did were OK for him to do, but they weren’t beneficial for him.
23 “Everything is permissible,” but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible,” but not everything builds up.
Paul was speaking about some who said believers had to follow certain rules to be saved. He was saying that while he had freedom in Christ, there were some things that didn’t help him grow in his faith or might have hurt him.
I think there are several questions we can ask that will help us figure out which decision is the wise one. First, we can ask whether a decision is wise based on our past experiences. There are some places you shouldn’t go, some people you shouldn’t see, and situations you shouldn’t place yourself in because you’re likely to fall back into a trap from your past.
If you or your family has struggled with addiction to drugs or alcohol, don’t go near a bar or restaurant that has alcohol. Don’t hang around with the crowd that’s doing drugs. If you’re struggled with gambling, don’t go to the casino even if it’s to eat at the buffet or stay in a nice room. If you struggled with pornography, limit your access to the internet. If you’ve struggled with debt, cut up your credit cards.
Next, you should ask what is wise when you consider your current circumstances? What fears, pressures, or circumstances are affecting your ability to make a wise decision. What emotions like anger or frustration are making you overreact? What season of life are you in right now? There are decisions I made that were fine when I was younger without children that aren’t wise for me right now.
Finally, ask yourself what is the wise decision when I consider my future hopes and dreams? Our future dreams can be crushed by poor decisions today. Running up credit card debt today affects your ability to take care of your finances later. Having an affair today affects your relationship with your family from here on out. One dumb decision today can rob you of your future dreams. We fool ourselves many times into thinking we won’t turn out like the others who have made mistakes in their life. We don’t make plans today with tomorrow in view.
Think about where you want to be financially in ten years and what decisions you need to make today. In order to see your children grow up loving God and becoming successful in life, what do you need to teach them today? In order to have a lasting marriage full of love, what decisions do I need to make today? What things am I doing now that I’ll want to hide from my future spouse?
Take a few minutes to be brutally honest with yourself. What would you do differently in the areas of finances, relationships, morality, profession, and spirituality if you applied the question “What is the wise thing to do.”
Following Jesus isn’t a casual hobby. It’s a serious commitment. Paul is basically saying, “Don’t be reckless with your life.” Think about every decision—money, relationships, work—and ask, “Does this honor God?” Then he gives us the tool to live that careful, God-glorifying life. We have wisdom that comes from His word, through prayer, and through seeking guidance from Godly friends and family who love us and have the experience to help us make wise decisions.
The next instructions given to us by Paul is to seize every moment in verse 16:
16 making the most of the time, because the days are evil.
Paul doesn’t use the normal Greek word for time here—like minutes ticking on a clock. He uses a word that means a fixed season, a limited opportunity. You and I have a set number of days on this earth. We don’t know how many. The Bible says our life is like a vapor—here for a little while, then gone.
14 Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring—what your life will be! For you are like vapor that appears for a little while, then vanishes.
The phrase “making the most” literally means “buying back” or “redeeming” the time. The phrase making the most of the time was also used to talk about buying a slave to set him free. We should use our time wisely or “buy it back” so we can use it wisely to make the most of the days we have on earth. Don’t want to waste the time you’ve been given. Every day is an opportunity to serve God. We can waste our time on worry, binge-watching, or anger, or we can redeem it for His glory.
Paul told Timothy to be ready in season and out of season to share the gospel. Why? Because you never know when your last conversation with someone will be. I felt led to share the Gospel with friends and neighbors in the past, but was too afraid to step out in faith. I put it off and the next thing I knew they moved or weren’t in my life anymore. That opportunity was gone forever. Don’t miss the opportunities God gives you today.
Then Paul says, “because the days are evil.” Evil days aren’t coming—they’re here. Turn on the news. Drive down the highway. Scroll social media. Sin is everywhere, destroying what God created beautiful. In Ephesus, the big temple to the goddess Artemis was funded by prostitution. Drunkenness was part of worship. The same things are happening in our world today. Our culture pushes sensuality, greed, and gluttony 24/7. Trouble doesn’t have to look for us; it camps out on our doorstep.
But here’s the good news: light shines brightest in darkness. When we seize the time, we push back against the evil. We love our spouse when we feel like quitting. We speak truth when lies are easier. We give when we want to hoard. We forgive when revenge feels good.
Notice Paul says “as we have opportunity.” Opportunities are all around us. The coworker who’s struggling. The child who needs a hug. The stranger who needs a smile. The widow who needs a phone call. Don’t say, “I’ll get to it later.” Later might not come. Paul wrote about taking advantage of opportunities and making the most of our time for the Lord in other letters:
9 Let us not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us work for the good of all, especially for those who belong to the household of faith.
5 Act wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the time.
Let me give you a challenge this week. Set a timer on your phone for every two hours. When it goes off, ask, “God, how can I redeem this moment?” Maybe you text encouragement to someone. Maybe you pray for the person in the car next to you. Maybe you pick up trash in the parking lot. Little moments add up to a life that counts.
Finally, Paul tells us to understand the Lord’s will in verse 17:
17 So don’t be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.
We shouldn’t be foolish, but what does that mean? We see a description of a fool in the Bible who says, “There is no God” or “I know better than God.” They are to prideful to submit themselves to God’s will.
1 The fool says in his heart, “There’s no God.” They are corrupt; they do vile deeds. There is no one who does good.
15 A fool’s way is right in his own eyes, but whoever listens to counsel is wise.
Paul doesn’t say “discover” God’s will like it’s a treasure hunt with no map. He doesn’t say “obey” like we’re robots. He says “understand.” That word means to put the pieces together, to grasp with your mind and heart. God’s will isn’t a mystery novel; it’s an open book. Most of us already know more of God’s will than we’re living out.
I used to pray in high school and college, “God, show me Your will for my life in five years.” I wanted the big picture—where to live, what job to take, who to marry. But God kept bringing me back to today. His will starts with knowing Him and obeying what He’s already said. Acknowledge what is true, then act on it. The next step comes after you take the first one.
Understanding God’s will starts with an intimate, loving relationship with Him. How do we understand God’s will? Two main ways: prayer and Scripture. Prayer is talking to God and listening. Scripture is God talking to us. When we read the Bible, the Holy Spirit opens our eyes to see truth we missed before. We can’t hear His voice if we don’t spend time with Him.
God reveals Himself to us and what He is going to accomplish in the world around us. He shows us where He’s working and invites us to join Him in His work. We won’t hear from God or see Him at work if we are distracted by the things around us. Satan tries to keep Christians from understanding God’s will by distracting us with social media, television, bad relationships, and sin. We have to let our minds be changed and renewed by God every day to understand His will:
2 Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.
Don’t let the world squeeze you into its mold. Let God’s Word renew your mind. Read a chapter a day. Join a Bible study. Memorize a verse a week. Ask God to show you one area where you’re rationalizing sin. Maybe it’s bitterness toward someone who hurt you. Maybe it’s laziness in your responsibilities. Maybe it’s entertainment choices that grieve the Holy Spirit. Stop pretending. Acknowledge the truth, confess it, and let Jesus change you.
Friends, understanding God’s will isn’t about perfection; it’s about direction. Are you moving toward Jesus or away from Him? Every wise choice moves you closer.
Let’s pull this all together. Walking wisely means paying careful attention to how we live, doing everything in Jesus’ name. Seizing every second means redeeming the time because the days are evil and opportunities are limited. Understanding God’s will means acknowledging what God has already said and acting on it instead of playing games with sin.
This whole passage points us to Jesus. He is wisdom in the flesh. The Bible says in Him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. When we walk wisely, we’re walking in step with Him. When we redeem the time, we’re joining His mission to seek and save the lost. When we understand God’s will, we’re learning from the One who said, “Not My will, but Yours be done.”
So where do we go from here? Three simple next steps.
First, examine. Tonight before bed, grab a notebook. Write down one area—finances, relationships, time—where you’ve been unwise. Be honest. Ask God to forgive you and show you the wise path.
Second, redeem. Tomorrow, set that two-hour timer. Every time it buzzes, pray, “God, how can I use this moment for You?” Write down what happens. You’ll be amazed.
Third, renew. Pick one verse from today’s passage to memorize this week. Start with Ephesians 5:15. Say it out loud every morning. Let it sink in.
15 Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk—not as unwise people but as wise—
Let’s pray. Father, we confess we’ve wasted time and made foolish choices. Forgive us. Fill us with Your Spirit so we can walk wisely, seize opportunities, and understand Your will. Make us more like Jesus. We love You. In His name, amen.
