15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil

 

The Greek word translated circumspectly in verse 15 carries with it the idea of “precision and accuracy”—but also has the idea of looking, examining, and investigating something with great care— But this Greek word further includes with it the idea of alertness. So Paul is telling us,

 

 

Of course obedience to God’s Word in general is how we walk in wisdom. The wisdom spoken of here is knowing and applying the Word of God—anyone who doesn’t is a fool. But also by admonishing us in Ephesians 5:15 to walk circumspectly Paul is telling us to live with purpose.  And I think by saying this he was drawing on something he had said earlier back in Chapter 2:1-2 when he said—

 

15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 

 

The word 

walked here in Greek, is a word that should be translated meandered—“to walk without purpose”. Paul is saying that before we received Jesus Christ into our hearts as our Lord and Savior we were just meandering through life—that is, we really didn’t have any eternal

 purpose.

 

 

The word world doesn’t mean ‘earth’ but the world system; the word course has its root in the Greek word for

.  A weathervane is also called a “wind vane” because it points in whatever direction the wind is blowing.  So the idea that Paul is communicating to us is that before we knew Jesus we were being turned and moved in whatever direction the prevailing philosophical, ideological and moral winds of this fallen world system were blowing us.

 

In other words we just followed the crowd, and the justification was, “everybody’s doing it—so get on board.”

 

But now as Christians our lives are no longer to be lived carelessly and without purpose because Jesus has given meaning to our lives and we are to walk with precision and accuracy in the path He has set before us.  Our lives should be following a different course than the unsaved world around us because believers and unbelievers are not headed for the same destination. 

And I think that Paul is giving us a very simple illustration here—no one sets out on a trip without plotting a precise course that will lead to a definite destination. And yet how many Christians really live their lives with a great sense of purpose, walking carefully through their day so as not to allow the devil to trip them up—using the opportunities God brings their way wisely.  That’s why Paul went on to say—

 

15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

 

Walking

circumspectly first of all means that we as believers redeem the time.  The Greek word for “redeem

” was a term used in the marketplace which meant to “buy out” or to “purchase completely”.  The word “time” is not the Greek word ‘chronos’ which is time in the sense of seconds, minutes and hours; but ‘kairos’ which is better translated “opportunities”.

 

This word was used by Paul in Gal. 6:10 when he said—

 

10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

 

The idea is that as Christians we should  “purchase completely” or “totally take into our possession” every opportunity that presents itself to be used by God.  We should be capitalizing on every opportunity we have to witness; to help another in need; or to minister in Jesus’ name—why?

Well, first of all because the days are evil.  In other words there is a tremendous amount of pressure that is being exerted on us by the world around us to waste our time or even worse—to use it in sinful ways.  We are living at a time when wickedness and immorality abound—a time when the darkness is so pervasive and so persuasive that the only way to keep from being swept away by it is to stand up and fight against it.

 

One author said,

 

4 I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work.

 

This is a solemn reminder to everyone who is a Christian that life’s “day” (our physical life on earth) is swiftly passing, and the night is coming when our service on earth will be forever over.

 

 

The great sixteenth century reformer Philipp Melanchthon kept a record of every wasted moment and took his list to God in confession at the end of each day—it’s a small wonder that God used him in such great ways.

 

12 So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom.

 

None of us knows how many days we will have in our lives—but here we are being told to “make every day count”.  How? By walking with purpose and not wasting our opportunities to be used by God.  But I think that Paul is also pointing out to us in Ephesians 5 that evil times create opportunities for good so we must make the most of those opportunities.  Henry Ford said this during the Great Depression:

 

 

What others saw as tragedy Ford saw as opportunity—the opportunity to make money. The same is true for Christians today—only the opportunity set before us is not to make money but to save souls.  I believe that God is allowing all of the economic uncertainty to give us the greatest opportunity we have seen in a long time to reach people with the gospel.  For Christians these are very good times—the problem is only a few realize it—God is setting before us an open door—let’s get busy!

 

As Jesus said,

Amen!  Pastor Phil