15 Be careful, then, how you live,[d] not as unwise people but as wise, 16 making the most of the time, because the days are evil. 17 So do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
Reflection
In these verses Paul contrasts foolish footsteps and careful conduct by a series of negative and positive exhortations.
Verse 15 is a general plea to his readers not to live unwisely but instead live as a wise person would.
Verse 16 instructs us to make the most of time. Recognize that every day brings opportunities and potential through holy living, doing good for others and speaking in ways that help. Opportunities for worship, witness, and service on earth will not be here forever.
Verse 17 is telling us that the important thing is to seek, be guided by God’s will for us each day and then to act on that. This is the way to be efficient and effective. We need to remember that it is possible to do what seems like good work according to our own ideas and in our own strength. The Lord’s wisdom and discernment bring strength and direction into our lives that cannot come from us alone.
by Clarence Beverage
For Pondering and Prayer
What do you think, if there are quintessential words in the Bible spoken by Jesus, might they be “Not my Will but Thy Will be done?”
We often think of God’s Will as for us. What could happen if we opened up our minds to God’s Will for the world, God’s overall plan and purpose?
In verse 16 Paul says make the most of time. At the age of 29, Jonathan Edwards, a young man, made a list of 70 resolutions. Resolution 5 read like this, “Resolved: Never to lose one moment of time but to improve it in the most profitable way I possibly can.” Before he wrote the first resolution he offered a prefatory word: “Being sensible that I am unable to do anything without God’s help, I do humbly request, that through His grace, to enable me to keep these resolutions, so far as they are agreeable to His Will for Christ’s sake.”
Prayer: Lord, we pray for your presence on this day and through that to show goodness, righteousness and truth in word and action. Help us to honor you by the life we live and the attitude of our hearts. Thank you for your unconditional and everlasting love. We pray these things in Jesus name. Amen.
