Make Your Life Count
-Live to the Glory of God-
Ephesians 5:15-20
The scripture passage in Ephesians 5:15-20 reminds me of the motto:
Only one life,
Will soon be past;
Only what’s done for Christ
Will last.
Every day you are faced with decisions. What will you give your time and energy to? Sports, hobbies, gaining wealth, work? None of these bring lasting satisfaction. J.B. Phillips, a New Testament Scholar translates Ephesians 5:15 this way, “Live life then with a due sense of responsibility, not as amen who do not know the meaning and purpose of life but as those who do.”
God’s purpose for you is to make your life count not just for this brief life on earth but for eternity. A good life purpose would be to “Know God and to make Him known.” Jesus gave the great commandment: “Love the Lord god with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this, Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:30-31
We love God and make Him know by serving others. Service is the pathway to joy and fulfillment. If you aren’t involved in something greater than yourself, you are just putting in time because life is meant for ministry to others. God wants you to make a difference in the world. God wants to work through you.
The god of this world, Satan, will do all he can to keep you from fulfilling God’s purpose for your life. “Your struggle is not against people, it is against principalities and powers and darkness present in this world.” Ephesians 6:12
It’s interesting that the “Passion of Christ” has been seen by millions giving the New Testament story of the crucifixion, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Parallel to the true story of Christ’s life and death is the novel by Dan Brown, “Da Vinci Code. The Da-Vinci-Code gives the fictional story of Jesus that runs counter to the New Testament. Brown sows seeds of doubt on the New Testament account by saying that the New Testament story of the life of Christ was a great conspiracy and did not tell the truth.
Brown writes that Jesus was a mere mortal man who married Mary Magadalene and had children whose descendants now live in France. Jesus is not the divine Son of God. The book has sold over 6 million copies.
The same warning that the Apostle Paul gave young Timothy is needed today. 2 Timothy 3:1-5 “You should also know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control; they will be cruel and have no interest in what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act as if they are religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. You must stay away form people like that.”
J.B. Phillips in the introduction to his book, The Ring of Truth, tells of a retired clergyman who took his own life because he started listening to skeptics that finally drove him to take his own life because he concluded his own life’s work was founded upon a lie.
J.B. Phillips felt that it was time someone who had given his life studying the New Testament wrote a book giving the historicity and reliability of the New Testament. Ring of Truth is his testimony.
J.B. Phillips gives this paraphrase of Ephesians 5:15-20. Under the title – “You Know the Truth Let Your Life Show it.”
“Live life, then with a due sense of responsibility, not as men who do not know the meaning and purpose of life but as those who do. Make the best use of your time, despite all the difficulties of these days. Don’t be vague but firmly grasp what you know to be the will of God. Don’t get your stimulus from wine (for there is always the danger of excessive drinking), but let the Spirit stimulate your souls. Express your joy in singing among yourselves psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, making music in your hearts for the ears of God! Thank God at all times for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. And ‘fit in with’ each other, just because you all recognize that God is the Supreme Power over all.”
This passage tells how to make your life count.
I. Be Careful How You live. Ephesians 5:15-16
In the first part of Chapter 5 Paul says Christians are to be children of light and are not to have fellowship with darkness. But as Christians Eph. 5:15 “Be careful how you live.” The KJV says, “Walk circumspectly.” The word can also be translated, “diligently” or “carefully.” We are not to drift through life wandering to and fro. We are to take control and take charge of our life. Romans 12:2 Paul says, “Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God.”
J.B. Phillips translates Ephesians 5:15 this way: “Live…not as men who do not know the meaning of life but as those who do.”
From time to time we need to be reminded that our life on earth is brief compared to eternity. Compared to eternity our life is like a speck in the vast universe. An elderly woman wrote a letter to a friend: Dear Bertha: I’m reading more and dusting less, admiring my garden more and fussing less about weeds. I’m spending more time with loved ones and less time working. Since life’s meant to be enjoyed, not endured, I’m no longer postponing the things that add joy and laughter. I’m using my best china to celebrate special events like the first Crocus, or losing a pound. I wear my new jacket to the supermarket and I’m not saving my expensive perfume, I wear it for store clerks and bank tellers! “Someday” no longer figures in my vocabulary. If it’s worth doing…I must do it now!”
How different would you live if you knew you wouldn’t be around tomorrow? Would you hug loved ones more? Contact estranged friends to mend fences? Pursue the opportunities you always talked about? Every morning we should remind ourselves that every minute and every breath we take is a gift from God. Let’s start living as those who know the meaning of life.
The Apostle Paul says, don’t let the world around you shape your life. Don’t be conformed or squeezed into taking on the ways of the world. Ephesians 5:16 NLT says, “Live not as fools, but as wise. Make the most of every opportunity by doing good in these evil days.”
As you follow Jesus as His disciple you are careful how you live. A disciple is one who practices spiritual disciplines. Proverbs 10:17, “Whoever practices discipline is on the way to life.” I Timothy 4:7, “Discipline your self for the purpose of godliness.”
As a disciple of Jesus you are developing holy habits of the heart. There are good habits and bad habits. A habit is something we do on a regular basis. A habit becomes second nature. Some habits are easier to accomplish than others. Eating comes fairly easy. The habit of physical exercise is more difficult. I Timothy 4:17, “Spend your time and energy in the exercise of keeping spiritually fit.”
In order to keep spiritually fit there are some things that must go. You have to get rid of some stuff. You may have to let go of an extra 15-30 minutes of sleep to get up and spend time in reading the Bible and prayer. You may have to let go of some TV programs or say no to things that overload your schedule. Hebrews 12:1, “Let us strip off every weight that slows us down especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress.”
In order to develop spiritual habits of the heart you must say “no” to somethings. Luke 10:38-42 NLT Martha was distracted by her many tasks. Jesus was in her home. Martha forgot to keep first things first. She got her priorities confused and mixed up. Mary chose the better way.
Ask yourself. Of all the things I’m involved in, what am I doing that will last for eternity? Determine to make choices that honor the Lord. “Be careful how you live.”
II. Know the Will of the Lord - Ephesians 5:17-18
To make your life count, “Try to understand what the Lord wants you to do.” How do you discover God’s will? The Bible says if you lack wisdom or understand, ask God for it.
Ask God.
James 1:5 “If you need wisdom – if you want to know what God wants you to do—ask him, and he will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking.”
Don’t look to the world for answers.
Ephesians 5:18 declares that you’ll not find God’s will in the ways of this world. Liquid spirits give false hope and artificial joy. Anything offered by the world is only temporary. Only the things offered by God are eternal.
You find God’s will by surrendering your life fully and completely to the Lord. Jesus doesn’t want half-hearted disciples. He wants fully devoted disciples. Romans 6:13 “…Give yourself completely to God since you’ve been given new life. Use your whole body as a tool to do what is right for the glory of God.” NLT Romans 12:1, “Give your bodies to God.” God doesn’t want 10%. God doesn’t want 50% or 99%. God wants 100%.
You may think your life is like a pie with different slices. One slice is your career, another slice is your social life, another slice is your married life and family; another part is recreation, another future planning, and then you have your spiritual life. God has a nice piece of the pie.
God says, “Wait a minute. I want the whole pie. I want it all.”
C.S. Lewis once said, “The only thing Christianity cannot be is moderately important.” If God’s story is true and it is. God deserves your entire life.
When you follow Jesus it is all or nothing. Matthew 6:24 NLT says, “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”
What or who is number one in your life? Sports, T.V., hobbies, career, family, wealth, financial security? All those things are important, but they should not be number one.
In Luke 14:18-20, Jesus tells the story why people make excuses for not putting God first. A king prepared a great banquet and invited guests to come to the incredible banquet. Those invited made excuses: “they all began making excuses. One said he had just bought a field and wanted to inspect it, so he asked to be excused. Another said he had just bought five pair of oxen and wanted to try them out. Another had just married, so he said he couldn’t come.”
One used the excuse of his wealth, wanting to watch his investment in real estate. Another used work as his excuse and the third used his wife.
Regardless of their circumstance people can find excuses for not serving the Lord.
A single person says, “I’m so lonely. I want to serve God. I would really serve Him if He would just give me a husband. I just can’t wait until God answers my prayer.” Another single says, “How can I help at the church. I’ve got some time available and I would love to serve the Lord with you.”
A young married couple says, “Our kids are too demanding. I’m lucky if I can just get to church, let alone serve.” Another family says, “Can our family put on a skit in children’s church? It would be something we could do together and our kids would learn ministry in the process.”
The middle aged person says, “You have no idea how much responsibility is on me—family expectations, work expectations—I have nothing left to give.” Another person the same age says, “I am at the peak of my strength. If I order my priorities right I can make a real difference!”
The retired couple says, “I’m tired. Let the younger generation do it. I’ve served my time.”
Another couple in the same life season says, “We have our retirement income. We don’t need money. We have time. What can we do for the kingdom of God in our golden years?”
Here is a Biblical principle. When you trust God and give Him your all, He helps you take care of everything else. Matthew 6:33 God says He will take care of you if and when you put Him first.
Proverbs 3:6 “In everything you do, put God first and He will direct and crown your efforts with success.”
Do you want success in your family? Put God first. Do you want success in your career, put God first. Do you want success in your school and education, put God first.
God does not bless what He is not number one in.
The teaching of Ephesians 5:15-20 tells you how to make your life count.
Be careful how you live.
Know the Will of the Lord
Then you will
III. Live a Joy-Filled Life. Ephesians 5:19-20 NLT
When you make your life count – walkng and living as a fully devoted follower of Jesus then you will experience a joy-filled life.
When God is first – regardless of how you feel or what your circumstance is, you can begin your day with a song in your heart.
When you are living a joy-filled life you can sing all styles of music.
You sing Psalms – God’s Word
You sing traditional Hymns
You sing praise choruses – spiritual songs
In all things you give thanks to the Lord. Ephesians 5:20 – “And you will always give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
God’s Word calls you to “Make your life count – live to the glory of God.
Be careful how you live.
Know the will of the Lord.
Live a joy-filled life.
You make your life count by surrendering your all to the Lord.
Make this hymn your prayer.
Hymn # 366 “I Surrender All”
1. All to Jesus I surrender, All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him, In His presence daily live.
Chorus: I surrender all, I surrender all. All to Thee, my blessed
Savior, I surrender all.
2. All to Jesus I surrender, Humbly at his feet I bow,
Worldly pleasures all forsaken, take me, Jesus take me now.
3. All to Jesus I surrender, Make me, Savior wholly Thine;
May Thy Holy Spirit fill me, May I know Thy power divine.
4. All to Jesus I surrender, Lord, I give myself to Thee;
Fill me with Thy love and power, Let Thy blessing fall on me.
