Ephesians chapter 5.
I'll just warn you on the front end, this is the longest word count I've ever had in writing a sermon.
! And when I tried to make cuts, I just realized I only say important things.
So, we're going to have to move quickly, and bear with me.
But today I have the privilege, the joy, and the challenge of preaching on the topic of stewarding your time.
Everyone in our world is interested in this topic for varied reasons.
You can imagine the businessman, he wants to manage time better, to be more profitable, to make more money, to have more product.
You can imagine the family man, he wants to get out of work as soon as possible and spend time with his family.
Everything is oriented clockwise towards being with the family.
And for the business owner, in his eyes, his family eats up too much of his time.
Whereas for the family man, in his eyes, his job eats up too much of his time.
Well, what's the difference? These two men have a difference in priorities.
You might assume that the businessman is in the wrong and the family man is in the right in the given hypothetical.
But the reality is both men have the potential to be wrong.
The businessman could potentially rightly value work and profit.
After all, 1 Timothy 5.8 says,
But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household,
he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
Or perhaps the businessman is familiar with Proverbs 14.23.
There is profit in hard work, but mere talk leads to poverty.
So it's conceivable that the businessman may have started out with honorable motives that made him work really hard
and have long hours at work.
Not a 40-hour work week, but a 70-hour work week.
In fact, he may be chiefly motivated to work for his family.
And maybe he's wealthy and he wants to be a philanthropist for other families in need.
And in that sense, he may be a truer family man, so to speak.
But, as most of us have probably already thought,
it is more likely that this individual is driven by a love of money,
or a desire of security, or something wicked,
because we just all instinctively know that this man is spending too much time at work.
And by consequence, neglecting his family, his church, himself, and most importantly, God.
Well, what about the family man who cannot wait to get home?
He sounds like a good guy.
But as I said, this man, he might sound better, but there's still the potential it's wrong.
So let's just say he's hated by his co-workers.
They say things like,
he never stays to help during our busy seasons.
Or he spends time at work FaceTiming his wife and kids all the time.
When is he going to get anything done?
Or perhaps they even say he's worthless and they hope he gets fired.
So I think we all see the obvious problem with both of these men.
They have an idol, one work, one family.
The businessman turned God's good gift of work and provision into an object of worship for whatever reasons.
Likewise, the family man turned God's good gift of the family into an object of worship for whatever reasons.
So therefore, both are in sin and both consciously or unconsciously, intentionally or unintentionally,
are poorly stewarding their time.
So as I alluded, there are a number of issues with both of these men in the given hypothetical.
But for our purposes today, I want you to notice the problem of time.
If you were to counsel these two brothers, and I'm assuming they are Christians,
and they came to you and they asked,
how should I prioritize my time?
What would you tell them?
And frankly, I doubt you even need this hypothetical.
If you look around the room, I guarantee every single one of us in every single season of our life
has asked this question.
How do I spend my time?
How do I steward my time?
And whenever we feel in life as though we've finally arrived,
as though we finally have control over our time,
as if we're stewarding it perfectly,
something happens to disrupt that.
A marriage, a new kid, a second kid,
a new job, and so on and so forth.
And like me, you feel like life just keeps getting faster and faster,
and that you are losing more and more time.
And so we ask,
how should I spend my time?
How do I find balance in life?
That's a word we love in this discussion.
How do I know I'm not neglecting the responsibilities God has given me at work,
at home,
and at church,
and anywhere else He has placed me?
So, of course, today I cannot tell you in specific detail
how to manage your personal life with all its varied variables.
But in principle, I can tell you what it should look like for every Christian.
But in practice, no, it can look very different, and that's okay.
So the goal today is simple.
I want to show you from Scripture
what should occupy our thoughts
and determine our actions
so as to better steward our time
for the glory of God.
So with that, we'll look at our text,
Ephesians chapter 5,
starting in verse 15.
We'll be looking at verses 15 through 21.
The Apostle Paul writes,
Therefore, look critically how you are to walk,
not as unwise, but as wise,
redeeming the time,
for the days are evil.
For this reason, do not become fools,
but discern what the will of the Lord is.
And do not get drunk with wine,
in this is debauchery,
but be filled by the Spirit,
speaking to one another in psalms,
in hymns,
in spiritual songs,
singing and making melody to the Lord from the heart,
giving thanks always for all things
in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
to God the Father,
submitting to one another in fear of Christ.
So in this text today,
there are five commandments,
some do's and some don'ts,
and these do's and don'ts serve as contrasts.
But we're going to divide the text in three parts
based on the contrasts.
So our outline for today,
number one,
be critical in your walk.
And number two,
understand the will of the Lord.
And number three,
be filled in the Spirit.
And I'll repeat these as we go along.
So our first section today,
number one,
be critical in your walk.
Looking at verses 15 through 16.
Specifically,
let's start with the first half of verse 15.
Paul says,
look critically at how you are to walk.
So that's the first of our five commandments,
the word look.
In Greek,
it is the imperative blepete,
which literally means look,
or some translate it as consider,
but it has the idea of looking with your eyes.
And Paul modifies this commandment verb
with the adverb critically,
or some translations say carefully.
But I prefer critically,
because the way Paul is using this word
is not in the sense that we should be cautious
or timid in our walk,
as the word carefully may imply.
Rather,
Paul uses this word in a way to convey
that we are to be tedious,
that we are to really examine
every weight and grain of our walk.
There's a high level of scrutiny
in looking at our walk in this way.
And our walk is simply Paul's way
of describing our life with Christ
and the progression of our sanctification over time.
So regarding this walk,
we are to weigh it or to judge it
by looking at it constantly.
Now, for those of us worried about time
and wanting to accomplish more each day,
this is a challenging command.
It is challenging because Paul, I think,
is essentially saying
we should make time to think
and to think specifically about our walk.
And I also assume in this,
just knowing a little bit about Paul
and other things he's written about,
that he has praying in mind,
that we should pray that God
would enlighten us,
that he would give us wisdom
to discern our walk rightly,
to know the true state of our stance before him.
And we don't like hearing that
because we want to get something done
that's tangible.
We would never admit this,
but functionally, sometimes,
often, for some of us maybe,
we treat prayer and quiet time
as a waste of time.
And nonetheless,
this is what the word of the Lord says.
Paul, by implication, says,
make time to think,
to look,
and to pray.
Discern your walk.
So as you've lived this week
and in the upcoming weeks,
are you walking rightly with God?
Are you examining yourself
before God in prayer
and in his word?
Are you practicing repentance
when necessary?
Are you practicing obedience
and growing in your faith?
In the second half of verse 15,
Paul describes how we are to walk.
He says,
not as unwise,
but as wise,
redeeming the time
for the days are evil.
Now, the very imagery of walking
is a moment-to-moment progression.
This world is full of sin and wickedness.
Paul wrote in the beginning
of his letter to the Ephesians,
chapter 2, verses 1 through 3,
all about mankind
apart from Christ.
And this includes you and I
before Christ.
He said of mankind
that we are dead,
that we are sinful,
that we are following
the way of the world,
following Satan,
controlled by the passions
of our flesh.
And Paul says all of that,
and he says that we walked
in that way.
So he's building a contrast
throughout his letters.
Two paths,
two ways of walking,
two directions.
So in chapter 2,
verses 1 through 3,
we see what walking unwisely
looks like.
But now,
Paul tells us
we ought to walk wisely.
Well, what does that actually mean?
So in the ancient world,
wisdom was not merely
something you possessed
intellectually or in your mind.
rather,
wisdom was knowing
the way things truly are
in the universe
and then living in accord
with that truth.
So you think about
Stoicism,
the ancient Stoics,
this meant for them
understanding the true nature
of the universe
through physics
and math and literature
and so on.
And out of these things,
they would create
a philosophy,
in their case,
Stoicism,
and then they would live
in accord with that philosophy.
To live outside of accord
with that philosophy
was to be unwise.
So there was this
obedience idea
wrapped up in wisdom,
not just knowledge.
And this was true
for the Christians too,
except we are aligning
ourselves with the truth
of God,
the creator of the universe,
and learning to live
in light of that truth
so as to change
our thinking,
our acts,
and our living.
So walking in wisdom
for Paul
is walking in accord
with the nature
and the will
of God.
So we are to look
critically at our walk
to evaluate
if we are walking
in accord
with the nature
and will of God.
And this commandment
comes with a good
and necessary
consequence.
So looking at
verse 16,
walking in wisdom
leads to,
quote,
redeeming the time
for the days
are evil.
So for those of us
tempted to think
that stopping,
quietly considering
our walk,
praying,
evaluating ourselves
before God,
those of us
who are tempted
to think that
that is a waste
of time,
Paul says just
the opposite.
Paul says that
by critically
considering our walk
so as to ensure
that we walk
in wisdom
actually redeems
the time.
And what is it
redeemed from?
The evil
we would have
committed
had we not
taken the time
to critically
examine ourselves
in our walk.
Paul says
for the days
are evil.
So we must be
so careful
in this world
and through wisdom
we not only
avoid evil
but we produce
acts
of righteousness
when we live
in accord
with the truth
of God
and his word.
So it is worth
the time
to stop
and look
at our walk
with God.
In this
we actually
make good use
of our time
and not only
the time
that we sit
quietly
but the rest
of the time
as we prepare
our hearts
and our minds
for the day
because we have
prepared ourselves
in thought
and prayer.
But there is
more to walking
in wisdom
more that will
help us
use our time
better
and so Paul
goes on
in verse 17
and this leads
us to the second
part of our
outline.
Part number two
do not become
fools
but understand
the will
of the Lord.
Part number two
do not become
fools
but understand
the will
of the Lord.
Paul writes
in the first
half of verse 17
for this reason
do not become
fools.
So this is our
second commandment
of five
in this text.
Do not become
as the commandment.
Do not become
what?
Don't become
fools.
For the sake
of not wasting
our time
not wasting
away our
very lives
Paul gives
us the second
commandment
in this passage.
We ought not
become fools.
Well who is
the fool?
Proverbs 18
2 says
a fool does
not delight
in understanding
but only
in revealing
his own
mind.
He's a boaster
a talker.
Proverbs 29
11 says
a fool
always loses
his temper
but a wise
man holds
it back.
And we could
go on and
on but
ultimately
we know
the fool
is the one
who rejects
Christ as
the cornerstone.
Christ made
this clear
at the end
of the Sermon
on the Mount
when he described
the one who
builds his
house on the
rock versus
the fool
who builds
his house
on the
sand.
So to be
a fool
is to be
unwise.
To be a fool
is to not
consider your
walk with God
and to be a
fool is to
waste away
the time
God has
given you.
Allowing your
days to be
in service
to evil.
So Paul says
not to be
foolish and he
goes on second
half of verse
17 but discern
what the will
of the Lord
is.
That's
commandment
number three.
Discern what
the will of
the Lord
is.
Well what is
the will
of the Lord?
And Paul
here is not
speaking about
what college
you should go
to, who
you should
marry, how
many kids
you should
have, or
any of those
kind of life
decisions though
those are
important.
Paul is
actually talking
about the
ultimate will
of God for
mankind and
creation, the
big plan.
What is this
plan?
Well again, if
you read all
of Ephesians
you would know
Ephesians chapter
one verse
four, Paul
writes of
God's will
and he
says, even
as God
chose us,
referring to
the church,
so even
as God
chose the
church in
Christ before
the foundation
of the world,
so there it
is, he's
planned this,
that we
should be
holy and
blameless
before him.
Paul
continues,
in love he
predestined
us for
adoption to
himself as
sons through
Jesus Christ
according to
the purpose
of his
will.
And Paul
goes on
after describing
this plan of
salvation, it
says in
Ephesians chapter
one verses
nine through
ten, that
God has
made known
to us,
these are
Paul's words,
known to
us the
mystery of
his will
according to
his purpose,
which he set
forth in
Christ as a
plan for the
fullness of
time to
unite all
things in
Christ, things
in heaven and
things on
earth.
So, through
Christ's
death, sacrifice,
resurrection,
ascension, not
only are we
saved, but God
is uniting all
things, heaven
and earth, creation,
man, in
Christ for his
good plan to
worship him and
glorify him for
eternity.
So, clearly, when
Paul refers to the
will of the Lord in
our text in
chapter five,
verse 17, he is
building on the
will of the Lord
that he opened his
letter explaining.
So, in sum, the
will of the Lord is
to save his people
by placing them in
Christ and uniting
all things in
Christ for his
glories.
This is what we
call the gospel.
And so, you may
wonder then, well,
isn't Paul writing
to the church in
Ephesus?
In other words,
believers, wouldn't
they already know
the gospel?
Why would he
command them to
discern the will
of the Lord if
they already know
it, if they
already know the
gospel?
And again, Paul
is discussing this
discernment in
light of the
walking that we
as believers are
called to or
commanded to
examine.
In other words,
Paul is saying
we ought to
consider and
know the will
of the Lord so
well that we
instinctively apply
it to our everyday
walk with him.
Whatever situation,
whatever encounter,
whatever the day
brings, we are
training ourselves
consciously,
intentionally,
intentionally and
daily to have
gospel criteria
informing our
every desire,
action, and
decision.
And we don't
have time to
examine all of
Ephesians, but
go read it for
yourself this
afternoon.
It's short.
And it will be
clear that Paul
has these things
chiefly in mind
concerning the
will of the
Lord and the
life of the
believer.
Three things in
my mind.
Number one,
submission to
Christ in all
things.
Number two,
loving and
living in
harmony with
the church.
And number
three, doing
everything to
the glory of
God.
And of course,
under this,
you'll see
things about
relationships
between wife,
husband,
slave,
masters,
children,
parents,
and so
forth.
But in
summation,
these are the
three big
areas, the
ideas.
And finally,
we have our
last section
where we will
spend most of
our time.
Section three,
do not get
drunk, but be
filled in the
spirit.
Verses 18
through 21.
Do not get
drunk, but be
filled in the
spirit.
So the first
half of verse
18, Paul says,
do not get
drunk with
wine, in
this is
debauchery.
And so we
have commandment
number four.
He says, do
not get
drunk.
Now this
commandment, it
may seem
random or
unrelated to
Paul's flow of
thought, but
rest assured, it
flows very well
with his line of
thought, and we
will examine that
in just a
moment.
But I
briefly wanted to
comment on
this, just
because I
know throughout
our lives,
maybe not
necessarily in
this church,
but various
relatives or
friends or
whoever,
different
traditions,
this is kind
of a
controversy,
should
Christians
drink or
not.
And of
course, I'm
not going to
dissect all
of that or
don't really
want to spend
a lot of
time on
that at
all.
I just
want to
note that
Paul's
commandment
here is
against
drunkenness,
not drinking.
There are
some Christian
brothers who
refuse to
drink and
they claim
it is a
matter of
wisdom,
and I
respect that
view a
lot.
I grew
up in a
dry family
for which
I'm so
thankful
personally.
In fact,
I've never
had a
drink,
I'm 26
years old,
but even
I will tell
you that
for Paul,
he does
not pit
living wisely
against merely
the act of
drinking
responsibly.
drunkenness.
In his flow
of thought
and discussing
wise walking,
he never
condemns
drinking
responsibly,
he condemns
drunkenness.
And we
see the
same idea
pop up in
1 Corinthians
6,
12.
Paul writes,
all things
are lawful
for me,
but not
all things
are helpful.
All things
are lawful
for me,
but I
will not
be dominated
by anything.
So as
believers,
we have the
freedom to
drink responsibly,
or we have
the freedom
to not
drink at
all,
and neither
brother is
the weaker
brother.
I cannot
tell you how
many times
in college
I had some
cage stage
bro come
up to me
and tell me
I was not
living in
freedom because
I didn't
drink,
that I was
being legalistic
even though I
held that
conviction
privately.
And I just
want to tell
you I think
that mindset
of trying
to convert
people to
drink or
not to
drink is
ungodly.
If you
want to
and they
want to,
that's totally
fine and do
it to the
glory of
God.
But don't
ram a drink
down someone's
throat.
And frankly,
the truly
weaker brother
in this whole
conversation is
the one who
feels the need
to tell others
what to do,
whether to
drink or
not to
drink.
We have
freedom to
enjoy or
not,
and that's
that.
So there
are just so
many other
more important
things to
discuss and
have unity
on,
and this
is just
not one
of them.
So with
that aside,
we can
return to
Paul's
flow of
thoughts.
I think
Paul picked
on drunkenness
in particular
in this
passage
because it
contrasts so
well with
the idea
of critically
considering our
walk,
walking wisely
and as we'll
see in a
moment being
filled by
the spirit.
it.
So the
contrast is
twofold in
my mind.
One,
drunkenness
represents the
opposite of
redeeming the
time.
Of course,
all sin is
sin,
but there's
something unique
about drunkenness
in that it is a
complete and
total waste
of time.
Drunkenness
does not do
anything or
accomplish anything
except lead the
drunk to ruin
apart from
Christ and
faith in
Christ.
Number two,
drunkenness is
the complete
opposite picture
of the man who
considers his
walk and is
thoughtful in
how he plans
to live so
as to pursue
life with
God.
But the
drunkard has
no aim in
life and gives
no thought to
tomorrow,
just the next
drink.
In fact,
Paul is
probably quoting
Proverbs 23
when he warns
of drunkenness.
So let me read
just a portion
of that to
give you an
idea of the
thought world
that he and
his readers
were in as
they considered
this.
Solomon writes
in Proverbs
23 verses
19 through
21, he
says,
Hear,
my son,
and be
wise,
and direct
your heart
in the way.
Be not
among drunkards
or among
gluttonous
eaters of
meat,
for the
drunkard and
the glutton
will come
to poverty
and slumber
will clothe
them with
rags.
And Solomon
goes on in
that very same
chapter in
verses 29
through 35,
which says
this,
Solomon asked,
Who has
woe?
Who has
sorrow?
Who has
strife?
Who has
complained?
Who has
wounds without
cause?
Who has
redness of
eyes?
And he
answers,
Those who
tarry long
over wine.
Do not look
at wine when
it is red or
sparkles in the
cup and goes
down smoothly.
In the end
it bites like
a serpent and
stings like
an adder.
Your eyes
will see
strange things
and your
heart utter
perverse
things.
You will
be like one
who lies
down in
the midst
of the
sea,
like one
who lies
on the
top of
a mast.
They
struck me,
you will
say,
but I was
not hurt.
They beat
me,
but I did
not feel
it.
When
shall I
awake?
I must
have
another
drink.
So clearly
the drunkard
described in
Proverbs 23
is enslaved
to the
bottle and
as a result
his life
amounts only
to what the
bottle allows
as his
master.
And
drunkenness
is a
cruel
master.
But for
those of us
in Christ,
regardless of
what prior
sins we
were enslaved
to,
we have
freedom in
Christ.
In
Ephesians
chapter 1
verse 13,
Paul says
upon believing
in Christ
in response
to the
gospel,
we were
sealed with
the promised
Holy Spirit
who is the
guarantee of
our inheritance
until we
acquire
possession of
it to the
praise of
his glory.
So Paul's
flow of
thought in
our text,
chapter 5
verses 15
through 21
continues then
and he's
saying no
longer shall
you be
filled with
wine or
in other
words,
do not get
drunk with
wine,
but he goes
on in the
second half
of verse
18,
but be
filled by
the Spirit.
And this
is the
fifth and
final commandment
in our
text,
be filled
by the
Spirit.
So for
us to
understand
what Paul
means by
this,
this phrase
be filled
by the
Spirit,
we have
to look at
the Greek
and the
Greek verb
here is
pleluste.
Now,
this verb
is a
present
passive
imperative
verb.
There's
your geeky
grammar for
the day.
And this
tells us
a few
things.
The
present
tense
means this
is an
ongoing
action that
we,
as believers,
are commanded
to practice
and obey
day to
day,
moment to
moment.
It's to
characterize
us being
filled by
the Spirit.
But Paul
is not
saying that
we gain
and lose
the Spirit
throughout
our lives.
We just
saw that
we are
sealed with
the Spirit
in Ephesians
chapter 1.
So clearly
that's not
what Paul
means.
No,
what he
means is
that we
are to
practice
obeying
the Spirit
as he
directs
us.
Not
obeying
the
drunkenness
of wine,
but obeying
the sobering
joy and
wisdom
of the
Spirit.
And the
passive voice
of the
Greek verb
tells us
that we
are being
filled
by the
Spirit.
In
other words,
we are
not being
more filled
with the
Spirit.
We fully
possess the
Spirit by
God's
grace because
of the
work of
Christ.
What Paul
is saying
here,
rather,
is that the
Spirit is
filling us
with something.
And I
believe Paul
is referring
to the
fullness
of God.
In Ephesians
chapter 3,
verse 19,
Paul was
praying for
the church,
and he
prays that
the church
would know
the love
of Christ
that surpasses
knowledge,
that we
may be
filled with
all the
fullness
of God.
And Paul
prays this
because this
is not
something you
and I
can do,
only something
God in
his grace
toward us
in Christ
can do.
Daniel
Wallace,
an evangelical
Greek
professor,
tracing the
language of
fill or
filling in
Ephesians,
summarizes the
idea best when
he says,
quote,
believers are
to be filled
by Christ,
by means
of the
Spirit,
with the
content
of the
fullness
of God.
I love
that
Trinitarian
imagery
of God
working on
our behalf.
So Paul
is not
talking about
the indwelling
of the
Spirit.
That work
is done
and sealed
for us
who are
in Christ.
Now he
is saying
we are to
be sanctified
by means
of the
Spirit,
filling us
with the
fullness
of God.
And finally,
the verb
is in the
imperative,
which means
it is a
command for
us to
obey.
So you
might wonder,
how can
this verb
be a
command for
us to
obey,
and at
the same
time imply
that it
is the
Spirit who
is carrying
out the
action?
Well,
stick around
for our
series in
Romans.
But in
short,
it is
clear.
The Spirit
is filling
us with
the fullness
of God
and we
must be
willing and
obedient
participants
in that
work.
Not the
work of
salvation,
which is
entirely a
work of
God,
but a
work of
obedience,
a work of
sanctification,
in which we
cooperate by
grace.
So kill
off your
selfish desires,
your idols,
your values,
and your
thoughts.
Die to
self and
give of
yourself
fully to
God by
cooperating with
the leading
of the
Spirit,
as He
continually
fills you
with the
fullness of
God.
A simplification
of this idea
is found in
John 3.30.
Quote,
He must
increase,
but I
must
decrease.
Now,
here we are
and we
still have
three verses
to go,
but all of
Paul's
commandments
in this
section end
here in
verse 18.
Verses 19
through 21,
which we are
about to look
at,
describe the
results or
the activity
of the
one who
is being
filled by
the Holy
Spirit,
the one
looking
critically.
So we're
about to
see what
life looks
like for
those of
us who
obey and
keep these
five
commandments.
So verse
19,
speaking to
one another
in psalms
and hymns
and spiritual
songs,
singing and
making melody
to the Lord
from the
heart.
So as I
said,
we participate
in true
worship from
the heart
only when
we keep
these five
commandments
we've just
considered.
And note
that when
Paul says
one another,
he's not
talking about
you and
your friends
or you and
your family
primarily,
though those
would certainly
be good
relationships to
worship God
with.
But Paul
primarily has
the church
body in
mind.
He's writing
to the
church of
Ephesus
after all.
And Paul
goes on to
describe the
wise walker,
the one being
filled by the
spirit and
says in
verse 20,
giving thanks
always and
for all
things in
the name of
our Lord
Jesus Christ
to God
the Father.
Again,
notice that
communal
language.
Paul says
our Lord
Jesus
Christ.
The one
who critically
considers his
walk and
is not
drunk with
wine but
filled by
the spirit
with the
fullness of
God is
one who
gives thanks
always and
for all
things.
So again,
I ask,
is your
life marked
by a
practice of
thanksgiving?
Are you
generally
thankful for
everything at
all times in
your life,
the good and
the bad?
Now is an
opportunity to
critically examine
your walk.
And finally,
verse 21,
the last
description for
those of us
who keep
these five
commandments.
Paul writes,
submitting to
one another
in fear of
Christ.
I say yet
again,
Paul is
talking about
the church
primarily at
this point.
The church
ought to
submit to
one another,
and this
may sound
like a
commandment
in English,
and it
certainly is
a commandment
elsewhere in
scripture,
but in our
text,
in Greek,
it is
clearly not
a commandment,
but describing
the result
of keeping
the actual
commandments
in this
passage.
This
submission is
to be done
in fear
of Christ.
The idea
here certainly
is reverence
for Christ,
but it is
certainly also
a genuine
fear of
Christ's
chastisement
for disobedience.
How better
and how much
more satisfying
it is for
us to simply
obey Him.
So in
summary,
Paul tells
us in
this passage
that we
are not
to be
unwise or
foolish or
waste our
time in
drunkenness.
Rather,
we are to
look critically
at our
walk.
We are to
discern the
will of the
Lord with
gospel criteria
for any
given
circumstance,
any given
encounter in
this life.
And we
must be
continually
filled by
the Spirit.
And when
we obey
these
commandments,
our life
will be
characterized
by speaking
and singing
scriptural
truths,
giving thanks
always to
God and
submitting to
one another.
And all
of this is
in the
context of
the local
church.
So there
you have it.
Now you're
all wondering
what did
most of that
have to do
with me
stewarding
my time
better?
What happened
to those
questions asked
at the
beginning?
How should
I spend
my time?
How do
I find
balance in
life?
How do
I know
I'm not
neglecting
the
responsibilities
God has
given me
at work,
at home,
and at
church?
But based
on our
text today,
and others
that we do
not have
time for,
I want to
suggest
strongly that
these are
the wrong
questions.
These are
not questions
we as
Christians
should really
be all that
worried about.
and I
would even
say they're
the wrong
focus.
But Paul
has provided
a different
way,
a better
way to
spend our
lives,
to consider
how we
spend our
lives,
to the
glory of
God.
If you
notice,
Paul's
emphasis
in this
text is
not on
a checklist.
It is
not on a
pie chart
for how
you should
break up
your hours
and minutes
throughout
the day,
nor is
a step-by-step
process for
better managing
your time.
In fact,
the aspect
of time
in this
text is
not even
the focus
or the
main thing.
It is
a footnote
to Paul's
larger
concern.
And it
is a
footnote
that is
taken good
care of
if Paul's
larger
concern
is rightly
accounted
for.
So imagine
that,
this time
management
thing,
this thing
we're all
wondering
about,
this thing
that there's
an article
published on
every single
day from
all kinds
of people
with all
kinds of
views,
not a
big deal
to Paul.
And yet,
Paul includes
this pervasive
phrase,
redeeming
the time.
He literally
says,
all of your
time is
redeemed
in the flow
of his
larger concern.
Now that's
an astounding
claim.
And it is
an astounding
claim he does
not pause
to make.
I think if
you went and
found all
these 20
year old
bloggers who
think a lot
of people
are reading
their blogs
but they
aren't,
talking about
time
management,
and they
haven't
figured it
out yet
because they're
20,
would be
shocked when
they read
this passage
because it
is such
a brief,
brief footnote.
But Paul
makes it.
He says,
all the
time is
redeemed.
And so I
think what
this reveals
to us is
that we
are 21st
century
American
Christians.
In other
words,
we still
ask the
kinds of
questions the
world,
the culture
around us
ask.
We don't
realize how
much our
thinking really
is of this
culture,
this time
and place
rather than
biblically
informed.
We have
thought about
time the
way the
world around
us has
thought about
time and
therefore we
have asked
the questions
they ask
about time,
though we
try to give
our Bible
answers.
But hear
this,
God is
less concerned
about how
you spend
your time,
less concerned
about how
you spend
your time,
and more
concerned about
what kind
of person
you are
and if you
are faithful.
And of
course,
if you are
the kind
of person
God is
calling you
to be,
and if you
are faithful,
then you
will use
your time
wisely.
You see
the freedom
in this
kind of
thinking.
And it's
worth mentioning
just again
to show you
how culturally
informed we
are in the
way we
think about
time,
that the
idea of
the eight
hour work
day or
the recreational
weekend or
even the 90
minute church
service are
all man-made
ideas.
And that's
not to say
they're inherently
evil,
it's just to
recognize these
are not
biblically
authoritative
establishments
that we
often treat
as biblically
authoritative
establishments.
And in fact,
in all of
scripture,
you will never
find God
say anything
about hours
and minutes
that we
must do
this or
that.
You won't
find it.
The Bible
just does
not discuss
or talk
about time
the way
we 21st
century
Americans
do.
So we
need to
change the
way we
think about
time to
conform to
the larger
concerns that
God has
breathed into
Paul in the
writing of
Ephesians.
things.
Now to
offer some
practical
advice,
I'm going
to lean
on an
author named
Rick Siegel.
Perhaps
you're familiar
with him
from Desiring
God.
He offers
five ways
to use
time wisely
and not
waste time
thinking about
time management.
And we'll
cover these
quickly.
So five
ways.
Number one,
as a Christian,
know you are
never going to
run out of
time.
What a
wonderful
thought.
We have
all of
eternity to
do the
things we
dream to
do and to
do it all
to the
glory of
God without
sin.
It's
irrational to
be concerned
about running
out of
time.
Number two,
remember people
are the object
of your
Christian vocation,
not the
means.
So do not
view people as
anything other
than people,
the mission
field, and
you will see
priority take
shape in your
life.
That is God
inspired.
And everyone
you meet either
needs to know
Jesus or know
more about
Jesus.
And we as
Christians can
offer both.
One to the
believer, the
other to the
unbeliever.
Number three,
seek to
de-automate
your relationships.
So spend
less time, and
I would argue
preferably no
time, wasting
your life on
social media,
and other
places where
you fake
relationships.
go spend
time somewhere
with someone
and develop
a true
friendship.
Siegel adds
that we
ought to see
unexpected
interruptions
from people
in our
day as a
divine
appointment,
opportunities for
God to use
us in some
way to
encourage or
equip or
evangelize
somebody else,
to serve
others.
And number
four,
detox on
output and
thrive instead
on the
greatest
commandments.
Don't worry
as much about
productivity if
you are faithful
to God and
concerning your
walk.
Productivity
will come.
But instead
thrive on the
greatest
commandment.
Love God
and love
neighbor.
This is the
greatest commandment
that dictates
everything we
do.
If you find
that all of
your time is
not geared
towards loving
God and loving
neighbor, I
guarantee you,
you are wasting
your life away.
This is
scripture.
And number
five, make the
glory of God
the goal of
all your
activity.
As Paul says,
whether we eat
or drink or
whatever we do,
do it all
unto the glory
of God.
Your job,
your family,
your church
involvement,
your chores,
your reading,
your entertainment,
everything,
your vacations,
you don't get a
break from God.
God is your
rest.
And it
should be
redeemed in
such a way
so as to
glorify God.
So that's
what Rick
Siegel has
to say,
but there's
something close
to home here
at CFC
that we need
to discuss
before we
close,
something
specific.
It's my
concern as
well as the
elders that
not that there's
a list of
names or
anything like
that,
but it's
just a
growing
recognition
that more
and more
people are
not making
time for
our church
outside of
Sunday morning.
It's been a
hectic season
these past few
years.
Babies are
flying out all
over the place.
People are
getting married
and just life
is moving.
But it's been
our observation
that many are
turning more
and more
inward to
their families
at the
expense of
the church.
And please
hear me,
families,
extremely
important,
extremely,
but I fear
they're being
used as an
excuse far
too often.
Our cleaning
crews,
just for example,
barely exist.
Just last
week,
Madison and
I,
it took us
about three
hours to
clean the
building by
ourselves.
Sarah Kohler
was there
helpfully
watching the
kids so we
could work.
So I guess
the three of
us were
there,
but the
point is it
took us way
longer than
it should.
And there
should be way
more volunteers.
I remember
the days here
when our
clean crews
averaged 15
to 20
people and
it took 40
minutes.
And it
was fun.
And that
happens regularly
because so
few are
volunteering.
I've asked
before and I
can't tell you
how many times
someone has
said,
well it's
busy with
a new
baby.
And I
just,
you know,
really like,
I didn't
realize both
parents needed
to be home
to watch
one baby.
Let alone
you could
both come
and we
have people
like Sarah
Kohler or
whoever watch
the kids
while the
rest of us
clean.
It's not
difficult to
figure out.
Likewise,
our volunteers
for child
care also
barely exist.
The same
few people
are taking
care of that
burden every
week for the
rest of us.
And the
sad one
about this
is that
most of
us are
here any
given Sunday
so why
is it a lot
of us
can't volunteer
our time to
help out
with child
care?
And I
could go
on but I
just offer
these as a
few simple
and basic
examples that
show our
church is
being neglected
by some of
its own
members.
And I
don't know
what to
conclude about
that other
than seeing
people become
less willing
to sacrificially
make time to
serve the
body.
And this is
something we
need to remind
ourselves.
God is not
merely calling
you to serve
the church
when it is
convenient or
mutually
beneficial.
Far more
often, in fact,
almost exclusively,
the New Testament
describes believers
serving sacrificially
through their
time and
their talents
and their
money.
So notice that
key word,
sacrificially.
It's not easy,
but it's normal
for the believer.
We throw
around phrases
like,
whatever is
best for my
family as
our all
encompassing
criteria.
But have you
considered that
what is best
for your
family may be
to take them
to church at
an inconvenient
time, to
sacrificially
serve, and
by that example
teach them,
your wife,
your husband,
your kids,
teach them,
life is about
the glory of
God, not
the comfort
of man.
I mean,
consider
Christ.
He left
the glories
of heaven
for fallen
earth.
He was
worshipped
continually by
angels in
heaven.
He had
comfort,
power,
glory beyond
imagination.
And yet,
we know from
Philippians,
he took the
form of a
man, took
the form of
a slave.
He was
mocked,
despised,
rejected,
and ultimately
killed.
And yet,
this was his
plan.
He came to
do it.
A 30-year
project in his
earthly life,
by the way,
a project in
eternity, but
that's for
another day.
Acts 2,
verse 23,
this Jesus
delivered up
according to the
definite plan
and foreknowledge
of God,
you crucified
and killed
by the hands
of lawless
men.
Christ allowed
and sovereignly
planned great
wickedness and
great shame
to be done
to his
son without
sin.
And why?
To serve
and establish
the church,
the people
of God.
We needed
someone to pay
the penalty we
owed for our
sins to God
the Father.
And Christ
did not merely
suffer a few
nails on a
cross,
but he
suffered the
wrath of
God,
something far
more terrible
and unimaginable
that we will
never experience
as believers.
And he did
all of this
to serve
his bride,
the church,
for his
glory.
Now what I'm
about to say
is a massive
understatement,
but imagine
the inconvenience
this would have
been for
Jesus.
And yet we
struggle to
show up on
Saturday morning
to vacuum
the carpet.
Now you may
be strongly
agreeing with
me and the
elders about
this growing
concern.
You may
strongly disagree
right now.
Whatever your
thoughts,
whatever your
conclusions,
in light of
our text today,
I just ask
that you pray
about it.
That you look
critically at
your walk
and discern
the will of
the Lord.
Be honest
with yourself
and be open
to the Spirit's
leading if you
begin to see
that you
could serve
more.
So in
closing,
if you want
to spend
your time
well,
then watch
your walk
closely and
discern the
will of the
Lord.
Use this
as your
criteria for
everything
you do.
Do not
worry about
managing time
so much.
That's merely
a symptom.
Look critically
at your walk
before God
and all of
your time,
all of it,
whatever you
are doing,
it will be
redeemed time
for the good
of man
and the
glory of
God.
So to that
end,
let's pray.
Let's pray.