Ephesians 5:15-21
15 “So then, be careful how you walk, not as unwise people but as wise,16 making the most of your 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, in which there is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your hearts to the Lord; 20 always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to our God and Father; 21 and subject yourselves to one another in the fear of Christ.”
Be careful how you walk: This is not a warning from Paul about divine punishment. Instead, Paul is talking about profitability. We are to make the best use of our time on Earth by not living unwisely.
The will of the Lord: Modern Christianity often makes the will of the Lord elusive. But Paul always uses the term with reference to Jesus. God’s will is Jesus Christ in us and living His life through us in every decision. This does not mean that we are to be paranoid about our choices. Instead, we are to consider what we want to do in our new hearts and live from this.
Do not get drunk…be filled with the Spirit: Being filled with the Spirit is knowing the love of Christ (Ephesians 3:14-19). As we know God’s love, we will be influenced by His love in everything. So, Paul is wanting people to be ultimately influenced by God’s love, not external things such as wine. This is not Paul forbidding drinking. Rather, he is talking about our source of fulfillment and motivation.
Subject yourselves to one another: Christian love considers others needs in addition to our own. We are to seek to meet needs and serve one another as the Spirit leads.
