Ephesians 5:15-20: Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
This passage deals with the importance of being filled with the Holy Spirit. Next week I will deal more specifically with that issue, but this week I want to focus on the word understand found in verse fifteen.
God wants you to understand what the will of the Lord is. He wants you to understand the broad principles of his will found in the Word of God. For example God desires for you to understand, as Paul writes in this passage, that it is his will for you to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Also, God wants you to understand many of the specifics of his will for your life.
What does it mean to understand? I like the first definition for this word found at dictionary.com. "To perceive and comprehend the nature and significance of." To understand the will of God is to perceive and comprehend the nature and significance of the will of God.
As you walk with God, there will be times when God requires that you obey him in faith without fully understanding his purpose in the situation. Overall, however, the Word of God clearly reveals God's intention for you to understand what he is doing.
One of the reasons that the book of Proverbs was written was for understanding words of insight. (Proverbs 1:2a) Though it cost all you have, get understanding. (Proverbs 4:7) The pursuit of understanding is of primary importance.
Let's examine three characteristics of a man who develops Biblical understanding. These characteristics are all found in the book of Proverbs.
1. A man of understanding delights in wisdom. (Proverbs 10:23)
2. A man of understanding holds his tongue. (Proverbs 11:12)
3. A man of understanding keeps a straight course. (Proverbs 15:21)The writer of Proverbs often contrasts wisdom with foolishness. Note this example in Proverbs 10:14. Wise men store up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool invites ruin. Either you will act as a wise man, or you will choose to act as a fool. A man of understanding clearly sees the value of delighting in the wisdom of God, and not acting as a fool.
In I Corinthians 1:30 Paul states that Jesus has become for us wisdom from God--That is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. To delight in wisdom is to delight in making right decisions. More importantly, to delight in wisdom is to delight in Jesus Christ himself, because he is the embodiment of wisdom.
Proverbs 8:18-19 lists many of the rewards of delighting in wisdom. With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity. My fruit is better that fine gold; what I yield surpasses choice silver. Wisdom produces great reward. Foolishness produces failure, mulitiplied problems, difficulties, heartaches and stress. A man of understanding will delight in wisdom.
Secondly, a man of understanding will hold his tongue. The man of understanding recognizes the power of words and will use the power of the tongue to his benefit, and to the furtherance of the kingdom of God. You can choose to use your tongue to make your life better, or you can choose to use your tongue to create problems for yourself. This contrast is made clear by the writer of Proverbs in 15:1-2,4: A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly. The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirt.
Choose to use your tongue with understanding, and you will enjoy a much higher quality of life. (See Proverbs 18:20-21)
Thirdly, a man of understanding keeps a straight course. I see two things in this verse. First of all, walking a straight course means that you choose to walk in the righteousness of God, rather than walking in sin. Sin is stupid. It is never to your advantage to disobey God. Secondly, walking a straight course means to continue to walk in obedience to the specific direction that you have received from God even when the pressure intensifies against you.
The Word of God teaches that the sexual act is reserved for the relationship between the husband and the wife. In today's Western culture very few young people wait until marriage to engage in sexual relations. However, in the church many young people seek to do the right thing and abstain from sexual relations until marriage. To abstain is the straight course. But pressure comes to those who seek to obey God in this area. There is the pressure of dealing with the normal human desires. Then, there is the pressure that comes from those who will ridicule a person who tries to remain pure. However, a man or a woman of understanding will choose to continue to walk the straight course in spite of the pressure, because he or she realizes that there is great reward in doing things according to God's plan.
Finally, how does a person obtain wisdom? First of all, the Psalmist said, I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore, I hate every false way. (Psalm 119:104) Understanding comes from the Word of God. The more you focus and meditate on God's Word, the more understanding you will obtain.
Secondly, the writer of Proverbs states, He who ignores discipline despises himself, but whoever heeds correction gains understanding. (Proverbs 15:32) Understanding is gained when you properly receive correction. Many people have difficulty receiving correction. Don't be that way. Rather, let Proverbs 9:8b become a reality in your life: Rebuke a wise man and he will add to his learning.
Purpose to daily invest time in the Word of God. And, when godly discipline comes your way, embrace it. Learn to walk in the light of God's understanding.
Wayne L. Williams
wayne@fotwm.org