As we come to this passage in Ephesians we are now being called by Paul to consider how we walk. As we have seen, he has been calling us to discern how we walk. Put off the old self and put on the new self. Be imitators of God.
Paul is commanding us to watch our walk. As believers who are in the world, why would it be important to watch our walk? We do not want to tarnish our witness, but we want to present a consistent witness before others. Think about what we want to do and not just state what we do not want to do. Paul gives three encouragements in watching our walk.
First, we are encouraged to walk as wise. Paul tells us in verse 15, “Be careful how you walk, not as unwise but as wise.” The Psalms often talk about those who do not believe in God to be foolish. They are fools. Paul is speaking on the assumption that a believer possesses wisdom. Because we believe and have faith in God we are possessors of wisdom. Why would it be true that believers possess wisdom? We possess the Spirit of God. God is the creator and originator of all life therefore he possesses the truth to all matters.
Verse 16, “making the most of your time, because the days are evil.” The KJV translations have “redeeming the time.” The idea is to buy back the time. One commentary writer states that “because the days are evil” is a reference to the fact that sin abounds in our world. The basic idea is that we must make the best possible use of our time because the time we possess is limited. We have only so much time before our lives end. We have only so much time to be used of God and serve Him in His Kingdom work before the time of others comes to an end. Why would it be important to watch our walk? Because our time is limited.
Second, we are encouraged to discern the Lord’s will. Most people at some point in their lives come to a crisis point of “what is the Lord’s will for my life?” As believers we must be able to discern the Lord’s will not just in the monumental decisions in life but even how to behave or respond in times of disagreement or conflict. Even times of “should I go on this trip without my children when I could have the time at home with them instead?” Why would it be important to be able to discern the Lord’s will?
Third, we are encouraged to be full of the Spirit. This verse is often pointed to as a command to not drink, but Paul is making a comparison between being controlled by wine and the Spirit. (Side note: this passage not verse is a strong basis for my own personal conviction to abstain from any alcoholic beverages for ‘recreation.’) The comparison is this: when you are drunk with wine you are being controlled by the drink and not your own self-control. When you are filled with the Spirit you are being controlled by the Spirit and not your own self-control. When you are controlled by wine you are not leading to more control but to losing control. However, when you are controlled by the Spirit you are being led to gain more control rather than lose it. In verse 18, it says that this is dissipation. Basically, that word means to scatter or squander. When you are drunk with wine you are squandering opportunities. How would you be able to witness to someone when you cannot control yourself? How can you speak in a spirit-filled manner when you are not controlled by the Spirit but by alcohol? The Bible is very clear that we should not be drunk, and also it makes clear some consequences of being drunk.
As we close, some comments on verse 19-21. We must watch our walk because of the witness that is entailed in how we live. There are some characteristics that Paul mentions of a Spirit-filled life. Believers will be exhorting and encouraging one another and possessing harmonious relationships with one another. Verse 19 is telling us that we should be encouraging one another not walking around singing the psalms to each other. People think Christians are weird as it is, what would they think if we were singing to each other? The basic idea is that they possessed a spirit of encouragement and exhortation. Verse 20 describes one who is thankful. This is not just thankfulness but thankfulness to the Lord. Verse 21 describes someone who is humble and servant-minded. They desire to serve one another and are not concerned merely with their own needs.
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