Preaching on Walk as Wise Men
Today we turn our attention to a powerful and practical exhortation from the Apostle Paul found in Ephesians 5:15: "Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise." This seemingly simple instruction carries profound implications for how we, as believers, are to navigate the complexities of this world. Paul urges us to WALK AS WISE MEN.
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A. Here Paul uses the word WALK
1. WALK negatively. Not as fools; fools have no understanding of the things that pertain to God and salvation, and therefore cannot attain true happiness. Paul begins by contrasting the wise walk with the foolish one. A fool, in biblical terms, is not merely someone lacking intellectual prowess, but someone who rejects God's wisdom and lives according to their own limited understanding, disregarding the eternal realities of salvation. Such a path inevitably leads away from true and lasting joy.
2. The Christian must be very careful, alert, and never neglect his steps. He must clearly demonstrate that he has put off the old man and put on the new man. Our conversion is not a passive event but the beginning of a transformed life. This new life in Christ demands vigilance, a constant awareness of our actions and their spiritual implications. We are called to actively live out the reality of our new identity, putting aside the patterns of our former selves and embracing the ways of righteousness. This requires diligence because the world around us is indeed full of wickedness, constantly seeking to draw us back into its darkness.
B. The fool says in his heart that there is no God (Psalm 14:1).
This is the foundational folly. Those who deny or live as if God does not exist operate without a moral compass rooted in divine truth. They do not seek God (v. 2). Nor do they call on Him (v. 4). Their lives are characterized by a self-reliance that ultimately leads to emptiness and destruction.
1. The fool speaks foolishness (Proverbs 15:2). Their words reflect their lack of wisdom, often being reckless, harmful, and devoid of truth.
2. A fool rejects discipline (Proverbs 15:5). They are unwilling to learn from correction and continue in their own misguided ways.
3. A fool's lips stir up strife (Proverbs 18:6). Their words are often contentious, divisive, and contribute to conflict.
C. A Christian must WALK as a WISE MAN.
A wise man uses his time well, making the most of it (Ephesians 5:16). The wise believer understands the preciousness and fleeting nature of time and seeks to redeem every opportunity for God's glory.
1. A wise man stores up knowledge (Proverbs 10:14). To guard it. True wisdom involves seeking and valuing knowledge, especially the knowledge of God and His Word, and carefully guarding it against error and misuse.
2. A wise man fears and shuns evil (Proverbs 14:16). The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. This reverent awe of God leads to a hatred of sin and a conscious effort to avoid it.
3. A wise man makes his father happy (Proverbs 15:20). Just as a wise child brings joy to their earthly parents, our wise living brings honor and pleasure to our Heavenly Father.
4. A wise man is not wise in his own eyes (Proverbs 3:7). True wisdom recognizes its limitations and humbly seeks God's guidance rather than relying on its own understanding.
D. We must walk and live as wise men, making the most of our time for God.
We must fear and shun evil. He who does not fear and does not shun evil is not wise, but a fool. The path of wisdom is characterized by a conscious and deliberate effort to live in accordance with God's will, valuing time as a precious gift and actively turning away from all that is contrary to His holiness.
The apostle Paul exhorts us to WALK and LIVE positively, and he exhorts us not to WALK and LIVE negatively.
A. Walk positively:
1. Walk worthy of our calling (Ephesians 4:1). As those who have been called into God's kingdom, our lives should reflect the honor and privilege of that calling. Our conduct should be consistent with the Gospel we profess.
2. Walk as children of light (Ephesians 5:8). Having been brought out of darkness into God's marvelous light, we are to live in the light, exhibiting the fruit of the Spirit – goodness, righteousness, and truth.
3. Walk in love (Ephesians 5:2). Just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, we are to walk in love towards one another, demonstrating the defining characteristic of a follower of Jesus.
B. Do not walk negatively:
1. Do not walk like the Gentiles (Ephesians 4:17). We are not to live according to the vain and empty ways of the world, characterized by darkened understanding and alienation from God.
2. Do not walk in the futility of our minds (Ephesians 4:17). Our thinking should be transformed by the renewing of our minds through God's Word, not governed by the aimless and unproductive thoughts of our unredeemed nature.
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The call to WALK AS WISE MEN is a call to intentional living, to a conscious choice to reject the foolishness of the world and embrace the wisdom that comes from God. It is a call to be alert, diligent, and purposeful in our steps, reflecting the light and love of Christ in all that we do. May we all strive to walk wisely, redeeming the time for God's glory and our eternal good.
