Living Very Carefully

DEVOTION

THE LETTER TO THE EPHESIANS

LIVING VERY CAREFULLY

Eph 5:15-20

15 Be very careful, then, how you live — not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. 19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

NIV

What does it mean to live carefully? What then does it mean not to live carefully? But it is not just carefully, but being very careful about how we live. The Greek word translated very carries the meaning of circumspectly, exactly, accurately. Be exact as to how we live, be accurate as to how we live. Do not live as unwise or foolish people live, but we should live as wise, or skilled experts or ones whose actions are governed by piety and integrity. However, the best and fullest definition of the word translated wise is in the philosophical sense. Forming the best plans and using the best means for their execution. Paul says this of God in his letter to the Romans. That would apply for his plan for our salvation as he executed himself. But, being very careful about how we live is making the plan of getting to heaven as the unwise are making their plans to get to hell. We should make the most of each day, living for God, understanding what his will is for our life. How do we live each day? This is not about abstaining from drinking wine as we know Jesus even made the best wine of all at the wedding in Cana. As well as Paul even tells Timothy to stop drinking only water, but use a little wine because of his stomach problems. Some believe they need to abstain altogether and that is fine, that is how they believe and they need to live with their convictions. However, this is about living in debauchery, getting drunk as a skunk and not remembering in the morning our behavior the night before. This is about getting so plastered, we say and act in such a foolish manner, and we literally make fools of ourselves. This is being filled to the gills with wine, till we pass out. No, that is not the way a person who is very careful would live. Instead, we would live in the Spirit, being filled with the Spirit. What does that mean exactly? Does it really mean that all we ever do is to quote psalms to one another? Does it really mean we simply sing to one another some of the old hymns? Who can remember them all, beside some of us cannot even carry a tune. Well, the Greek word translated one another could mean that, but it is also used in the third person singular and plural, much in the way we, or I, write. So then that thought could say speak to ourselves, quote the psalms in our mind, sing in our mind spiritual songs, keeping the word of God first and foremost present in our mind and heart, always be cognizant of Spiritual matters which would then govern our behavior. Making music in our heart to the Lord. This wise living would also include always, not sometimes, not when it is convenient, not when we remember, but always, at all times, ever giving thanks to God the Father for everything, not some things, not only the things we like but everything in the name of our Lord. This is not always the easiest thing to do because there are things that happen in our lives that are not so pleasant. But we are to thank God the Father not just for those good times, but for those times, or circumstances that are not so good.  Because he is the very definition of wise, his plans are the best plans for our lives and he executes those plans for our spiritual growth and faith in him. Always giving thanks to God is living very carefully.