It isn’t bothersome that folks who don’t claim Christianity live like folks who don’t claim Christianity. What is aggravating is when those of us who proclaim Christ live like those people who do not follow the Lord. Answering the question, “Why do Christians think certain things are a big deal?” becomes more difficult to answer when the same attitudes and behaviors are named among those who follow Christ.
Even though God offers her to us, wisdom remains rare. The following outline is written with the prayer that you and I will always respond to wisdom who cries aloud in the streets for our attention.
How do “What’s the Big Deal” and “Live Wise” relate to each other?
Many of these “big deal” issues violate wisdom, which is one of the Bible’s highest virtues. Proverbs 1:20-23 shows the Biblical priority of heeding wisdom’s cry.
Wisdom is about aligning who you are and what you do with the morality of God. A moral person making moral choices and taking moral actions is considered wise.
In “Live Wise” we are asking, “How can I best posture myself for wisdom’s moral conduct?
We are not postured for wisdom’s moral conduct when we are HALT: hungry, angry, lonely, tired.
We are postured for wisdom’s moral conduct when we hear her gentle corrections and rebukes and quickly adjust. Wisdom promises, according to Proverbs 1:23, “If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you.”
A brief study of Ephesians 5:1-21
Ephesians 5:1-21 is very helpful for living wisdom’s moral conduct in our world today by showing us that it is wisdom to imitate God and to walk in love. Vs. 1, 2
The Apostle Paul addresses three battlegrounds on which we wage the war for wisdom’s moral conduct.
- The battleground of the body. Ephesians 5:3, 5
- The battleground of language. Ephesians 5:4
- The battleground of relationship. Ephesians 5:7
Living unwise, simple, foolish, and apart from wisdom’s moral conduct is to waste the days of our lives but to live wisely is to make the best use of our time. Eph. 5:16
- Make the best use of time in the battleground of the body by doing what is proper among the saints (those who live holy lives). Vs. 3
- Make the best use of time in the battleground of language by speaking thanksgiving. Vs. 4
- Make the best use of time in the battleground of relationships by not becoming partners with the unwise. Vs. 7
Wise use of our time, in this passage, is: 1. Walk as wise. (Vs. 15) 2. Make the best use of time. (Vs. 15) 3. Understand what the Lord’s will is. (Vs. 17) 4. Be filled with the Spirit. (Vs. 18) 5. Always and for everything, addressing one another with gratitude to God. (Vs. 19, 20) 6. Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. (Vs. 21)