IBS Application for Ephesians 5:15-17

“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”

Paul, in writing this letter to the church in Ephesus, seems to be trying to explain to the Ephesians some of the finer details about how salvation works and to exhort them to walk rightly with Christ. This passage comes as part of that exhortation. Just prior to this passage in fact, he tells them what they ought to avoid doing in order to live as “children of light.”

It seems as though this passage’s particular warning is on of urgency. “The days are evil,” he tells them. The enemy is working in the world to try to prevent us from living wisely, as examples of what living a fulfilling life of testimony looks like. He urges them to try to understand what God’s will for their lives is, in order to live in a manner that glorifies Him in doing His will.

Given how lax some members of the church are when it comes to ministry, the point about being wise with our time seems rather poignant. The way we make use of our time should matter to us more, but it doesn’t. It’s a major problem that the church as a whole hasn’t been dealing with. There are many saved people, myself included, who’ve been living asleep. But Paul calls out people like us just prior to this passage, saying, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

The mission given to the church by Christ Himself was to make disciples of every nation, ministering to all people until the whole world hears the Truth of the Gospel. But many of us have been sitting on our hands, claiming that being saved is what matters. It’s selfish and ultimately, unloving.

Truly loving our neighbors means using our time with them wisely, living life as walking testimonies to God’s grace and love. It means preparing for the spiritual fight we face each day we’re on this earth, so that souls can be saved from the fire. It means being responsible enough to be able to be entrusted with the task.


In order to live making wise use of my time, I plan to pray not only that I would be washed afresh and anew with the Holy Spirit, but that fear, shame, tempatation, and every other weapon the enemy uses to try to trip us up in the fight we face would be broken not only for me, but for everyone here. I also will prioritize getting homework done over fellowship and other distractions in order to be more responsible with my time, the only exception being if one of my brothers is in need of support and prayer.

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