Ephesians 5:17-21 "Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. (18) And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; (19) Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; (20) Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; (21) Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God."
In today's verses we find two things that we are NOT to be. "Be not
unwise... And be not drunk with wine." It is a lack of wisdom that leads
to drunkenness. Strong drink says, "I will make you forget all your
problems." When actually it is unwise to try to forget all our problems
because they do not just disappear. Wisdom is required to solve the daily
struggles in which we find ourselves. What is the true answer? We saw part of
it yesterday in that we are to seek to know and understand the will of the
Lord. Being drunk with wine is certainly not the will of the Lord; rather, we
are to "be filled with the Spirit of God." Being filled with the Holy
Spirit turns our hearts and minds toward the Lord rather than to the world.
Being filled with the Holy Spirit gives us joy and peace within our hearts
toward the Lord even in times of struggle. Being filled with the Holy Spirit
restrains us from things that we would later regret and reminds us that we have
so much for which to be thankful. "Giving thanks always for all things
unto God..."
Being filled with the Holy Spirit enables us to have the strength to submit
"one to another in the fear (honor and glory) of God." Being drunk
with wine causes a person to be a braggart and completely self-centered. But
may I also say that there are other things which make us "drunk, wherein
is excess." We can become drunk with power, with self-righteousness, with
seeking self-exaltation, with anger, jealousy, envy, and so many other things.
All of these things can cause a person to act in a manner that is completely
contrary to the will of the Lord. Paul writes about it in just about every book
that he was inspired to write. By God's grace, we have been given the mind of
Christ and we are commanded to use it to the honor of God and to the well-being
of others. We are commanded to submit "... yourselves one to another in
the fear of God." Paul wrote in Philippians 2:3, "Let nothing be done
through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others
better than themselves." May we all strive to this end that we would seek
the good of others even above ourselves. Yes, I know that is contrary to what
we hear from the worldly minded; but, this is the will of the Lord in Christ
Jesus.
1 Lord, let me live from day to day,
In such a self-forgetful way,
That even when I kneel to pray,
My pray’r shall be for OTHERS.
Refrain:
Yes, others, Lord, yes, others,
Let this my motto be;
Help me to live for others,
That I may live like Thee,
2 Help me in all the work I do
To ever be sincere and true,
And know that all I’d do for you
Must needs be done for OTHERS. [Refrain]