Ephesians 5.15-16

A lot of times we hear Christians talk of ‘fitting in to reach people’. There is some degree of truth to this (1 Corinthians 9.19-23, although context is important there), but this never includes wilfully choosing to sin in order to win, so speak. We are as much defined by what we reject as we are by what we accept. In Ephesians 5.15-16 Paul takes the truth of sexual morality and conduct one step further for his readers:

“Therefore consider carefully how you live—not as unwise but as wise, taking advantage of every opportunity, because the days are evil.”

(Ephesians 5.15-16, NET)

Ours should be lives lived as wise people: those who have learned about and accepted the truth of Jesus. Truth accepted and truth internalised will bear the fruit of godly behaviour in our lives. This will provide irrefutable evidence to those around us that God is real, Jesus saves, and His Spirit lives in us. Conversely, we will never attract people to the truths of the Gospel by living as the unwise.

We read in v.16 that we are to be taking advantage of every opportunity. Perhaps your Bible says that we should be making the best use of the time. Either way, Paul’s point is that how we choose to behave each and every day is so important:

That one interaction with that one person may be the only time you ever talk to them.

That one choice you make may be the only time they ever see you navigating all that life throws at you.

Simply, because you are a believer, consider carefully how you live. Life is short, time is limited, and we will never attract people to the truths of the Gospel by living as the unwise we have talked about so far in Ephesians 5.