Live the Wise Life
Notes
Transcript
Grace to you and peace, from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
The central concept for today’s message is time — kairos.
As one examines time in today text as well as in other portions of Scripture, one quickly realizes that time is a gift. As with all other gifts, God calls us to be good stewards of time.
Time is neutral, like a radio wave; it can be used wisely or foolishly.; for good or for evil. Time is something with which most every person on this planet can easily identify. Our awareness of time is illustrated by the fact that we have clocks and watches of all sorts and types. Like most non-renewable resources, time — and our use of it — is important.
The late Jim Croce wrote and sang a song entitled, “If I Could Put Time in a Bottle.” The lyrics of the song offers a list of aspects of life that he would change if, in fact, time could be captured. But time does not stand still. Therefore, it becomes a precious commodity in this life.
Understand What Is the Will of the Lord (vs. 15, 17-20)
Understand What Is the Will of the Lord (vs. 15, 17-20)
How? Being very careful to live wisely in these evil days
Work urgently looking for wisdom
What / who is wisdom?
Taking advantage of the opportunities to “be filled with the Spirit” (v. 18).
We are filled with the Spirit and discover the will of God by means of the preached Word.
We are filled with the Spirit and discover God’s Word as we are nourished by means of the Sacraments.
When make the most of every opportunity when we keep focusing on Christ.
We keep focusing on Christ by”addressing one another in psalms, and hymns and spiritual songs” (v. 19)
We keep focusing on Christ by “always and for everything giving thanks in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father (v. 20).
The Lord doesn’t want his people to be ostriches with their heads in the sand. He wants us to be people with our heads in the Book, the Bible. For that is the only way we gain an understanding of what God wants for us and from us. From the Word we learn that the first item on “God ’s Will List” is for sinners to be with him in heaven.
But this gift can be lost, foolishly tossed away and discarded as if it were worthless garbage. Who could do such a thing? We and our hearers could! That’s why Paul emphasizes, “Be very careful” that we don’t toss out God’s gift of life, as if it is worthless garbage.
So, how does God want the Christian to live?
Redeeming the Time (vs. 15, 16)
Redeeming the Time (vs. 15, 16)
By Redeeming the Time Eph 5:16 — making the most of every opportunity
16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.
16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.
A καιρός is the special time that is adapted for a certain thing, the season for something, hence the opportunity.
These seasons are brief, they soon slip by; one must recognize them and must buy while the buying is good. We say “use” the opportunity; Paul says “buy it out,” purchase all that it offers. That means: pay the necessary price in effort and exertion.It is lack of wisdom to hold back and to wait for a still better opportunity, which then often fails to arrive
5 Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.
What are we to buy up for our use? Paul answers, τὸν καιρόν, the right time to do or accomplish something. As shrewdly as we attempt to buy an item on sale and take advantage of its lowest possible price, so shrewdly are we to watch for and snatch up opportunities
Opportunities to do what? First of all, since the days are evil and we are in danger of being sucked in by that evil vacuum, Paul wants us to seize every opportunity to be strengthened and built up by the means of grace. Then he encourages us to make the most of every opportunity to spread the gospel and so to snatch someone else from evil and the evil foe. He is leading us to “overcome evil with good” (Rom. 12:21).
It is lack of wisdom to hold back and to wait for a still better opportunity, which then often fails to arrive.
The implication would be that in these dark and latter days, while we await the coming of our Lord Jesus, we should take advantage of any opportunity to walk in God’s ways (5:15; cf. Gal 6:10)
“The days are evil” (v. 16).
The world seeks to occupy all our time so that little or no time is left for the Lord.
The world entices us to use our time in selfish and unhealthy ways.
It doesn’t take a top-notch detective to find evidence that the days we live in are indeed evil. Just read your newspaper or watch the nightly news. Dark violence, pale apathy, and a red lust. Even many churches and religious citadels have become rotten to the core, promoting homosexuality, abortion, and other evils while avoiding any worthwhile Bible teaching and instruction. It is a fact: the days are evil!
“Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” (v. 2).
He gave His time for us, and He did so at just the right kairos!
6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.
He gave His life for us.
Without question, the time has grown short, and as Christian people we ought to be making the most of our time. The problem is, time cannot be put in a bottle, but it can be used wisely. Christ gave not only His time for us but His very life as well.
Let us then seek to understand the Lord’s will, to be filled with the Spirit, to remain always focused on Christ, looking always for to redeem the time for our growth in faith and for the salvation of others — while we still have time.
Because Jesus was punished for our sins by his Father, we can claim God as our loving and caring Father. We know that our Father will work out everything, even life’s disasters and distresses, for our good (Ro 8:28). Thus we are blessed with a constantly grateful spirit, “In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Amen.