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Don’t Be Good . . . Be Wise!

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“Don’t Be Good . . . Be Wise!”

Ephesians 5:15-20 (5:15-16) – August 18, 2024

Can you picture this scenario? A tired mother, towing a whiny, unwilling child behind her in the grocery store, finally bursts out in an exasperated tone, “Will you please just be good?” How many times have you heard that cry? “Stop misbehaving!” or, “Please, be good, for once!” We may even have said it ourselves, to our children, grandchildren, nieces or nephews. Misbehavior is more than just a child’s issue. It’s bigger than that. It’s a larger issue . . . an issue of society in general, even a world issue.

The world situation today is not good. For confirmation, all anyone needs to do is look at a daily newspaper or listen to the nightly news. Misbehavior on a regional or national level. Wars and conflict overseas, violence in every large city in the United States, breakdown of society’s fabric in general, worldwide. I can quote the Apostle Paul from this passage in Ephesians 5 and say that these days are, indeed, evil.

This evil that Paul speaks of is not just generic, abstract evil. This evil is a specific kind of evil . . . in Greek, poneros—evil in active opposition to the good, pernicious. Insidious. Causing ruin. This is the situation that humanity is in without God. Left to our own devices, people will inevitably take the easier, softer way, cutting corners, with no moral compass.

If anyone here is familiar with the book The Lord of the Flies, this story is a prime example of how bad humanity can get. Briefly, the story concerns a group of British schoolboys who are wrecked on a tropical island without adult supervision, since the adults die in the plane wreck. It doesn’t take long before all kinds of evil behavior starts occurring as the boys engage in bullying, gang activity and before long, outright violence.

            Now, this book (later made into a movie) is a fictional account concerning schoolboys who do not have a moral compass. This kind of behavior is a worst case scenario, but it is happening more and more, as we see groups of people all over the world acting more and more amoral. Maybe we see it more and more because of better communications. And, with television and computers, news is beamed to the remotest corners of the world—news of these evil days.

“Though we cannot pretend that evil isn’t real (such a view would hardly be “wise”), this also cannot be the whole story of the world. We know that the world is God’s good creation, and that all days are God’s gifts” [1] – God’s gifts to God’s people!

            This is exactly the audience to whom Paul addresses this letter. The believers in Ephesus were Christians. They did believe in the claims of Jesus Christ. They were walking with God. One of the main themes of this letter is just that: keep walking with God. The Apostle Paul did not soften his words. He knew how difficult and challenging the Christian life can be.

            Paul’s strong words in Ephesians 5 are as much for us today as for believers centuries ago. “Take heed how you order your lives!” or, “Consider how you conduct yourselves!” The Christian life is not just a walk in the park, strewn with financial and material blessings, no matter what the tele-evangelists who promote a health, wealth and happiness gospel seem to say.

            Instead, and this is shown to us again and again in the Apostle Paul’s own life, the Christian life is not a spectator sport. No sitting in a comfy chair, eating bonbons. Life takes some doing. It takes rolling up our sleeves, and not being afraid to do something for God.

            Don’t get me wrong . . . I am NOT saying that we can work our way to heaven, because we CANNOT. No. We as human beings start off by our very nature separated from God, and cannot do anything about our own predicament. Yet, God’s wonderful grace sent God’s Son to redeem us from the evil things we have done, from the evil circumstances in which we find ourselves. And, when each of us believes in that gift of salvation and redemption, God helps us to be wise. God helps us to conduct ourselves in a manner pleasing to God!

            These days are evil, but with the Lord’s help, we can continue to walk in the way of God, not of evil. Yet, it is so easy to get off course. It’s like a ship on the ocean, steered by a rudder. Even if that rudder is off only a tiny amount, it doesn’t make a big difference at first. However, as the ship moves further and further across the ocean from New York City and continues on the wrong course uncorrected, instead of arriving in France, the ship might well end up in Africa! Aren’t we similar to that ship on the wrong course? Even though the course was only very slightly off in the beginning, as time went on and the journey continued, we might end up in a very different place from where we originally thought.

            This is one of the decision points of the letter to the Ephesians. We’re advised to live not as foolish people, but instead as wise people. I know very well how easy it is to become foolish. Sure enough, I do foolish things with great regularity. The Apostle Paul refers to this action as a continuing action.

Foolishness doesn’t just happen once or twice, and then stop. No, we need to keep close to God and keep coming to Him for help. God will help us understand how to be wise! God will help us to understand what God’s will is, too!

            This reminds me of my friend Mike, whose two children are about the ages of my two older daughters, in their late 30’s. Mike is a Presbyterian elder, a retired high school science teacher, and he gave me some words of wisdom some years ago regarding childrearing. He said because he wanted his children to exercise the excellent minds that God gave them, Mike would not tell his children to be good, but instead to be wise.

            Which is easier? Which is more difficult? Which takes more brain power? Being good, or being wise? Being wise takes some brain, some thoughtfulness, and some deliberation. Thank God that God loves us so much – God gave us excellent brains.

We can walk in a way pleasing to God, using the brains that God gave us to be God followers. “To be the awakened and wise people of God means that we can be good and honest stewards of time, so that opportunities to do justice, and to live boldly as God’s reconciled people during this time, are not missed.” [2]  And, the best part of all is that God will help us to be wise! God will give us wisdom, and will help us as we walk each day, one day at a time.

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. and  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!

[1] https://www.workingpreacher.org/commentaries/revised-common-lectionary/ordinary-20-2/commentary-on-ephesians-515-20-4

[2] https://www.workingpreacher.org/commentaries/revised-common-lectionary/ordinary-20-2/commentary-on-ephesians-515-20-4

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Always Giving Thanks!

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“Always Giving Thanks!”

Ephesians 5:15-20 (5:20) – August 15, 2021

            When I mention “Thanksgiving,” what do you think of? The turn of the seasons? The coming of cold weather? Harvest time, pumpkins and spiced apple cider, turkey and dressing? Some people think of football and eating too much Thanksgiving feast, too.

Thanksgiving isn’t just for November, just for harvest time. But, before we get to the thankful part of this Scripture reading from Ephesians, we have to consider several commands and recommendations about how to truly live life as a believer in Jesus Christ.

Paul’s first command is to be wise people. Wise! Not foolish.

Most anyone can describe a foolish person, even pick them out of a group of people, because of their foolish, short-sighted thoughts, words and especially deeds. Who has seen someone being foolish? Either in real life or on television or movies? Often, it’s played up as a comic thing. But, when we see people doing foolish things or saying foolish words, we often can tell right away how foolish they are.

It’s more of a challenge to know the wise thing to do, the wise words to say. When my older two children were little, years ago, I attended church with another couple who also had children around the same age. I vividly remember my friend Mike saying – repeatedly – be wise. He would regularly advise his children to be wise, and cautioned them that it was more of a challenge to be wise. He would say that anyone could be good, without thinking very hard. Except, being wise takes a lot more thinking and discernment. Paul advises all of us to be wise!

Paul’s second command? Be filled with the Spirit. That’s a nice sentiment. But, how?

My husband Kevin was a cub scout and a boy scout. He often went camping with his troop, and they were carefully instructed by their scout leaders to clean up after themselves! No leaving trash around the campsite! They made sure the place looked even better when they left than when they first came. My husband still remembers one of his leaders would say, “Take nothing but photos, leave nothing but footprints.”

Yes, this is how to be a responsible citizen. Commendable to be a caring human being. However, this alone is not the way Paul intends the Ephesian believers to live out their faith. Paul reminds us that we Christians do more than that! We believers in Jesus Christ live out the Good News of Jesus Christ by transforming the world! In whatever way we can.

Sure, we can make certain that we keep things tidy, and clean up our mess. But, transforming the world into the image of God? That we cannot do alone. We need God’s help! We need to be filled with the Holy Spirit – and by God’s grace, the Spirit will partner with us! The Spirit will come alongside of us and help us to do God’s work – transforming the world![1]

And, it’s not only the apostle Paul who advises us to transform the world. One of my favorite Jewish expressions used by some of my Jewish friends is tikkun olam. “In Jewish teachings, any activity that improves the world, bringing it closer to the harmonious state for which it was created. Tikkun olam implies that while the world is innately good, its Creator purposely left room for us to improve upon His work.” [2]  

The third command of the apostle Paul? Sing and make music in your heart to God. That is one thing the Protestant church excels at! Certain denominations are just superb at singing and praising God in four-part harmony. My husband grew up in the Methodist church, and he remembers the church he attended as a boy. The whole congregation sang many hymns with gusto every Sunday. His family is musical anyway, but Kevin is really appreciative of sung music in four-part harmony. What a marvelous way to praise our God!

I do need to make a caution. With the rise of the Delta variant of COVID, please be cautious about singing in public, currently. I know that the apostle Paul tells us it’s a great idea! However, be prudent, be caring, and be wise in your dealings with others, for right now.

We are approaching Paul’s recommendation to give thanks. It seems as if Paul is winding up, getting ready to explode with words of praise in “psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord.” We’ve seen Paul get all excited before! Remember, at the end of chapter 3, where Paul burst into a glorious benediction proclaiming the glory and majesty of our God.

We are looking to make a difference in the world, correct? That is what we as believers in Jesus Christ are called to do, correct? It’s not just an exterior thing. It is not just give, give, give, constantly doing things for others all the time. Yes, doing that is a way to please God, to be sure! But, we all need to nurture and restore ourselves, too. And, how might we do that? By praising God! By singing in psalms, hymns and songs from the Spirit! This is not only a way for me to nurture myself, singly, but it is as way for all of us to restore and uplift each other, too!

Music is a marvelous way for all of us to give thanks, to express praise and thanksgiving to our God. I was trained as a church musician, originally. Music is very close to my heart, and has been, ever since I was a little girl. Paul’s admonition here in Ephesians 5? Like second nature to me! I love to sing and play and make music, and these words tell us that it’s a great idea for mutual nurture and uplifting, too! In whatever way, style or manner fits you and your culture, or how or where you grew up, God is so pleased when God’s people lift praises in music!

Which brings us, finally, to giving thanks. Thanksgiving is not just for a Thursday in November. It’s an everyday thing. A joyous thing! Something that we are all called to do, each day of our lives. We can always find something to give thanks for, “always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Alleluia, amen!

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. #PursuePEACE – and  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!

[1] https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/worship-planning/geared-up-for-life/twelfth-sunday-after-pentecost-year-b-lectionary-planning-notes/twelfth-sunday-after-pentecost-year-b-preaching-notes

[2] www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/3700275/jewish/What-Is-Tikkun–Olam.htm