Ephesians 5:15-20

both for yourself and for those who hear you. (I Timothy 4:15-16)

When it comes to godly discipline the believer is to “take pains.”
He is to “be absorbed.”
His progress should be evident.
“Pay close attention” to your life and doctrine.
Persevere.

This is what it means to “be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise…”

Walking in wisdom requires a lot of time and energy. You have to intentionally focus on…

16making the most of your time, because the days are evil.

2. Wisdom understands that the time to shine is limited (:16)

This candle represents one life. When I light it, the life begins.

[LIGHT THE CANDLE]

The candle’s life is short, and when it’s over, that’s it.

But the question really isn’t how much time does the candle have, but how will the candle be used while lit?

You are a child of Light, and your job is to shine in the darkness demonstrating God’s righteousness and exposing evil deeds.

Unlike this candle we choose how and when to let our lights shine, but (just like this candle) we don’t know how long it will be until we’re snuffed out.

[BLOW OUT THE CANDLE]

And so Paul says, “make the most of your time.”

How much of your time is spent on holiness? Paul told Timothy to be “absorbed” in the things of God. So many in our culture are far more absorbed in entertainment and distractions than they are in spiritual things.

You can’t make the most of your time in these evil days when you do this.

If you know more about sports than you do about Scripture, there’s something wrong with that. I know a guy who can tell you who won every Super Bowl for the last 40 years, but he can’t find the book of Jude. It has nothing to do with intelligence—it’s all about your walk.

It’s a sad thing when a believer knows more movie quotes than Scripture. It’s sad when Christians spend all their free time in escapist entertainment meditating on nothing but wood, hay, and stubble (I Cor. 3:12).

“Make the most of your time.”

People you know will soon settle accounts with the Judge of the earth. Your lost friends will stand before Him as murderers, liars, thieves, blasphemers, adulterers, and rebels. By then it will be too late. “Make the most of your time because the days are evil.”

Remember what we read last week?

Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. 2"For behold, darkness will cover the earth and deep darkness the peoples; but the LORD will rise upon you and His glory will appear upon you. 3"Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. (Isaiah 60:1-3)

[RELIGHT THE CANDLE]

Wisdom understands that today is the day to let your light shine because your time is limited and because the world is in deep darkness.

17So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

3. Wisdom is linked with understanding God’s will (:17)

We’re told to walk in wisdom, and then we see this link between wisdom and understanding God’s will.

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. (Proverbs 9:10)

First, I want