Eph 5:15-16 “Therefore be very careful~~ how you live– not as unwise but as wise, taking advantage of every opportunity, because the days are evil.”
Foolishness is not just silliness or making poor decisions. The “unwise” or “fool” is a person with a self-centered mind-set, a character deficiency.
Believers should learn to identify the symptoms in order not to imitate them. The longer a fool practices his foolishness, the more permanent his destructive character becomes. Eventually, he persuades others to follow him.
“The fool says in his heart that there is no God” (Psa 14:1), and he sets himself up as his own god and “mock[s] at sin” (Prov 14:9). Because he does not recognize God, he does not recognize sin in his own life. Believers, however, are to live as “children of light” (Eph 5:8), exposing evil. They are to be “acceptable to God” (5:10) by reflecting Christ’s attributes and attracting others to Him.
The command to “be very careful” means to be intentionally obedient. Wisdom living is the exact opposite of the fool’s lifestyle, as we “imitate God” (Eph 5:1) and walk in humility, unity with the believers, separation from sin, love toward all, and light of His Word (4:1–-5:14): “You have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim 3:15). “In all wisdom and insight [God] made known to us the mystery of His will” (Eph 1:8–-9); even Jesus “kept increasing in wisdom” (Luke 2:52).
When Christians fall into Satan’s traps, it is because they choose to be “unwise,” or “without wisdom”: “We also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another” (Titus 3:3).
We cannot waste time. Only the wise see how to make the most of it, especially in times that are “evil,” or full of “wickedness or moral corruption.” Do you believe wise living is best?
“Father, my daily life is so full of my activities, fun, and plans that sometimes I miss the moments You provide to speak a word for You or to serve someone You want to touch through me. Keep me alert today to see Your hand in my life.”