Jump Start # 1170

Ephesians 5:15-16 “Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.”

  Our verse today is about purpose and carefulness. The man of God walks with a purpose and a direction. He is careful. He realizes each step must be calculated. Others are watching. Each step could lead to a pit. Each step could be fatal, especially spiritually.

There is contrasting ideas put forth in this verse. First, the unwise man. He is not dumb or ignorant. He is spiritually unwise. The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, Proverbs tells us. There are many folks who are highly educated yet remain unwise, because they lack a knowledge or an interest in God.

There are three characteristics of the unwise that is implied from this text:

• The unwise man is not careful about his walk. He gives it little thought. He does what he feels like. The consequences often catch up with him, but he fails to learn anything from them.

• The unwise man doesn’t make good use of his time. He wastes time. He spends time as if there was an unlimited amount. His days are spent with useless chatter, gossipy news and shallow conversations filled with boasting, pride and trying to impress impressionable people. This man gets older, but he doesn’t get any better.

• The unwise doesn’t recognize the times we live in. The days are evil, but he doesn’t see it. He is part of the problem and he fails to see that things are bad. The evil surrounds him, but it isn’t noticed by this unwise one.

In contrast, the man of God, is careful how he walks. He is making the most of time and opportunities, realizing that there is only so much. He understands that these are dark days and so many love the darkness rather than the light. The man of God and the unwise man approach a day so differently. What they do will be so different. What they are looking for is different.

This verse begins with a “Therefore,” and that helps us so much in gaining a fuller understanding of what is intended. Paul said previously to this:

• You were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light (8)
• Learn what is pleasing to the Lord (10)
• Do not participate in the darkness (11)
• Expose the darkness (11)

God’s people won’t see every movie that Hollywood wants us to. Some are darkness and not worthy of our money nor time. God’s people won’t listen to every song that comes out. God’s people will not watch every show on TV. Even among those we call friends, may be the unwise who want to engage in darkness. God’s people may and often must, cut ties with these people.

Be careful. Be careful how you walk. In the back of my property is a woods. I’ve been in it several times this summer. There is much poison ivy back there. Most times I’m looking for it. A few times I didn’t. I paid for it when that happened. The same happens spiritually. When we are watching, careful, and looking, we do pretty well. It’s the times we let our guard down that we get into trouble. Often that happens around family or among those who ought to be walking with us in Jesus, but they are not. We don’t pay attention as much. We let words slip that shouldn’t be there. We find ourselves doing things that we usually wouldn’t. We weren’t careful. If you ever carried a box that was marked “GLASS,” you understood careful. You picked it up carefully. We made sure you could see as you walked. You sat it down carefully. With the same thought and care, we ought to handle our souls the same way. Be careful.

The little ones will sing, “Be careful little eyes what you see…” It’s the big eyes who often need to remember that. Be careful little mouth what you say…It’s the big mouths that get in trouble. Be careful. Those are God’s words.

We live in dark days. Watch your step. There are many ways and many things that can cause you to stumble. You must keep your eyes open. It’s not a time to zone out nor go through life on auto pilot.

Walk like someone with godly wisdom. Walk like someone who realizes what time it is. Walk like someone who knows where he is going. Walk carefully. Walk like you are headed to Heaven.

We are one day closer to Heaven. Live as if one foot is already there!

Roger