Six Steps To Wisdom Series

Ephesians 5:15-21

Six Steps to Wisdom.

A pastor was meeting with his staff and deacons. Suddenly an angel appears and says, “Pastor, because of your faithful sacrifice, you have been granted one of these three choices: Unlimited wisdom, or unlimited money, or unmatchable good looks. Which will you choose?”

The pastor immediately said, “Wisdom”, and the angel said it was done before he disappeared.

The staff and deacons look amazed at the pastor, who still had a slight halo glow to him. One of the said, “Say something wise.”

Suddenly he had a shocked look on his face and said, “I should have taken the money”

Eph 5:15-21 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

+ Introduction: (15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise.)

We have mentioned that wisdom is seeing things from God’s perspective.

We have seen how wisdom gives us an understanding of things that appear to be similar, but are by nature very different.

Again, Paul encourages us to walk in wisdom.

Here he gives us six steps.

Later, we will see how he shows us how to live wise in the home.

I. Care in our occupation. spending time.

making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.

The first step of wisdom is to value your time.

Let me illustrate the importance.

Many years ago, we took a youth group to the gulf coast for a camp.

The sixth graders had moved into the youth group, and we had a whole spectrum of youth ages, 200+ teens.

One of our sixth grade boys had never been away from home.

The only money they had to bring to camp was to eat on the way up and on the way back, plus and incidentals they needed for the week.

We had four school sized busses, plus a few ban and cars.

We stopped at a convenient store gas station, much like stripes.

This boy was given $25 for the whole week by his parents.

He went into the store and spent the entire amount on junk: candy, snacks and toys.

Now this boy was out of money. By the mercy of some adults, he got to eat on the 8 hour trip back.

The next year, the youth director took up the money from the Middle School kids and put each kid’s money in an envelope with his or her name on it.

He assigned a banker to keep it and to make sure every student had enough money to eat on the way home.

For those alive today, the average life expectancy is 75 years.

Some of you are already on borrowed time.

But whether we pass before or after our 75th birthday, God has numbered our days.

Job 14:5 says that the length of our life is determined.

Psalm 139:16 says that number is written in a book in heaven.

Psalm 90:12, the Psalmist ask God to teach us to number our days.

That means for us to value our days.

We have been given a set amount to spend.

To be wise, we must spend each one wisely.

Once a day is spent, we cannot get it back.

Do we buy junk food and toys? Or do we honor God with it?

II. Care in our Motivation. pursuit of God’s will.

Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

To be wise, to make the best use of every day, you need to know what the will of the Lord is.

Some believe you cannot know what the will of the Lord is.

Through the years, I have had people come to me asking me what the will of the Lord is for their lives.

I have stood in my driveway with a fairly new convert who wept to know God’s will for his life.

I had an older Church member tell me once that she had never successfully sought God’s will and found it.

Maybe that is where you are today, or you are face with a decision.

You feel the weight on your shoulder, you know God knows the answer, but are afraid you won’t hear it.