The cover story of the September 14th issue of Newsweek magazine is very revealing about our culture today. The story is entitled: "How to say no to your kids." What I found interesting wasn’t the tips of saying "no" but on why it’s so hard for parents to do it.
Some statistics jump off the page: today families with 3 to 12 year olds spend $53.8 billion dollars annually on entertainment - that’s up over 17 billion in just six years. Last year 17-19 year olds spent about 175 billion, 53 billion more than in 1997.
Having things has become an epidemic addiction among today’s young people. In fact, 53% of kids say buying certain products makes them feel better about themselves. Parents say it makes them lazy and self centered - kids who will grow up as adults that are more vulnerable to future anxiety and depression.
William Damon, director of the Stanford University Center on Adolescence says "You sit around feeling anxious all the time instead of figuring out what you can do to make a difference in the world."
What it is, quite simply, is greed run amuck. The American Heritage Dictionary defines greed as: "An excessive desire to acquire or possess more than what one needs or deserves, especially with respect to material wealth."
In Chapter 4 of Ephesians - verse 19 - Paul talks about impurity and "a continual lust for more." That’s greed.
Why is greed bad? Because it is self - I want, I deserve, I must have - but then when we get what we think we want, it only makes us want more.
Jesus talked about a man in Luke 12 who was so successful in accumulating wealth that he decided to build bigger barns and then just kick back and enjoy - not knowing that that very night he was going to die and as Psalm 49:17 says that in death a man will "take nothing with him when he dies." Our greed and our possessions that result from it are useless - no matter what your destination.
So what’s the cause? We are a nation of consumers. Consumerism is a religion - if we do not consume we are unpatriotic - it keeps the economy going. It’s what we are fed day and night constantly over the TV, radio, billboards - everywhere - buy buy buy. It’s no wonder we have raised a generation of the greedy - modeled expertly by us parents.
So why go into all of this? Because as followers of Jesus Christ - we must not let ourselves be wooed into things like greed - one example of the pervasive values of the world that permeates even the church.
Today we’re going to hear the Apostle Paul tell us to stop imitating what we see around us because it will do us no good, will not further God’s kingdom and will not follow us into eternal life. There is someone else that we should imitate - and hearing this might hit kind of close to home for some of us.
Today let the Holy Spirit convict you as He wills - to do some surgery in your life and mine as we look at the first 20 verses of Ephesians Chapter 5.
5:1 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
"imitators" (followers in KJV) is the Greek word from which we get the English word "mimic." A mimic sees someone do something and does the same. Have you ever seen a little child watch how their daddy sits - and readjust their position to be exactly alike? That’s what are to be with our Father in Heaven - why? Because we are His children - not the children of this world.
How do we do that? By "living a life of love - following, or mimicking the example of Jesus’ love for us by laying down His life.
Paul will tell us more specifics as we make our way through the chapter - but basically living a life of love means to love God, then let His love seep out of you to others. I know that seems elementary - but if you really allow His Spirit to take control of you in this way it will revolutionize your life and free you from the bondage so often associated with greed - and the other things we are going to talk about.
There are seven things Paul lists in the next paragraph -
Hints of sexual immorality, impurity, greed, obscenity, foolish talk, coarse joking, and being deceived.
3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people.
In one sense - all these have something in common - "sexual immorality" basically means having sex with someone who is not your spouse. "impurity" refers to a kind of debauched sexual sin - and greed in that context would indicate a sensual self-indulgence. Many translators think that greed is also fitting in its broader context.
First - sexual purity is important to God - why? Well, for many reasons, one of which we will see next time - that sexual purity in marriage is a picture of Christ’s love for the church - and thus a way to reach people for God’s kingdom.
But I want to focus on two things: "hint" and "improper"
The Greek word for "hint" here is "to be named." The point is we should not "ride the fence" or give any doubt as to our conduct in this manner. Our world today pushes sexual immorality at us like a flood - and it’s hard when every character on every show is jumping from bed to bed and where every advertisement is selling sex as much as it is a product. Colossians 4:5 says "Be wise in the way you act towards outsiders." We need to be examples of what God is like, not mirrors of what the world is like. And we shouldn’t go as far as we can but without overtly sinning.
The second word is "improper" which means "suitable." This kind of behavior doesn’t fit with a person who has been washed in the blood of Jesus. Like a person who has lost a lot of weight no longer fits into their old clothes - we as Christians should no longer fit into the mold of impurity and greed. We are clothed with Christ and His character - we are "holy". The word "improper" literally means "to tower up" or "become conspicuous." As Christians, if we allow ourselves to be drawn into sin we become conspicuous - and believe me - non-believers are watching!
It’s also not helpful. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 6:12 "Everything is permissible but not everything is beneficial ? I will not be mastered by anything."
4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.
These three involve the way we talk to other people.
Even as we need to guard how we act with others - we need to guard how we talk to others.
Most commentators I consulted regard all of these three as having sexually related conversations or joking.
But I believe it can also be applied a little more generally.
James 3:9-12 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
So now Paul gives the punch line:
5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person-such a man is an idolater-has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
Here’s how the UBS Translators Guide to the New Testament translate this:
Ephesians 5:5 "if you always want to get more and more for yourself then that is the idol which you are worshiping"
Acting in a way that is contrary to God’s character - talking in a way that brings glory to you, not to God - always wanting more for yourself - leads to self focus and self worship.
Now I’m not saying that everyone should sell everything and move to a monastery. But be aware - because the world around us has a constant pull on us to always focus on the self - gratifying desires above all else. But God is love - self giving love - benefiting others more than ourselves love.
If you act and talk to gratify the desires of the sinful flesh you will not be banking anything in heaven.
"Has any inheritance in the Kingdom" - anywhere God is ruling, this kind of behavior should not be taking place.
6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7 Therefore do not be partners with them.
That’s what the world around us is doing - deceiving us with empty words.
God will judge everyone who has rejected His son based on their speech and behavior - if you do these things you won’t be sent to hell, but you sure won’t be seeing your life transformed and yourself used for the Lord.
"Do not be partners" could be rendered: "don’t join up with them."
It’s one thing to be a shining light to the unsaved - it’s another to be indistinguishable from them!
He goes on to talk about the change that took place in us when we came to Jesus and how that ought to change how we think, speak, and act:
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9(for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, 14 for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said:
"Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you."
We’ve got a variety of metaphors going - light vs darkness, fruit vs fruitlessness - and down a little further: dumb and wise.
By nature we were once owned by darkness - but now owned by the light
The natural fruit of an unredeemed life are shameful acts
The natural fruit of a redeemed person is goodness, righteousness and truth - so if the fruit of your life seems more like the fruit of the darkness - its time to get serious about your faith.
I’ve got two trees in my backyard - a plumb and a pear. The plumb is pretty much a stick with a few leaves and no fruit. The pear is this monstrous thing that I can’t control and produces so much fruit it overwhelms me. I can’t benefit from that plumb tree - unless I like eating dead wood. But the pear tree gives me nutrition, good taste, and something to can for the future.
Our problem is sometimes we look at a dead plumb tree and think it is really alive - the world makes its dead wood look really good - but what is the fruit?
We "expose" the shameful deeds by shedding the light of God’s truth - His Word, His gospel - into the situation.
But we get lulled into a kind of spiritual sleepiness where we kind of act like in a dream - just going along with what everyone else is doing. It’s time to wake up.
Verse 10 says: "find out what pleases the Lord." The Greek suggests that this happens by experiment - as you life your life governed by the Spirit and not by the world - your experiences will begin to give you results - "I did this, and I don’t think this ended up as something the Lord can use" or "I stepped out and look at the fruit in this person’s life." Don’t be afraid to do stuff - but be open to correction.
15 Be very careful, then, how you live-not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.
Three pairs of contrasts
1. Wise or unwise - as it relates to our everyday conduct
In Greek these are to antonyms: wise is practical clear thinking. Don’t walk around with your head in the clouds or buried in the ground - you have a limited time left on earth - to spread light into a dark world so make the most of it.
2. Foolish or understanding - "foolish" is the word: mindless or ignorant. Instead we are to be understanding, which comes from a Greek word "to put together." God’s Word and His will are actually pretty clear - love God and have a vibrant relationship with Him where He has access to your life for His Spirit to change you and mold you and use you. Read His Word, go to church, worship - get "smart" in God - not "intellectual" but "intelligent."
3. Don’t get drunk - be filled
Paul really does say "don’t drink to intoxication" - it leads you to do stuff you shouldn’t do - alcohol lowers the inhibitions and easily addicts you. I can’t tell you the number of people whose lives have been messed up by alcohol - I used to sit in courts and watch them have trouble after trouble.
Instead "be filled." The verb means "to cram the net full" I think there are a lot of intoxicating things in the world - but we shouldn’t have room for them because we are so filled up with God.
So finally for today - Paul gives us some ways that we can get that "filling."
19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Speak, sing, and give thanks.
There are so many musical terms in these two verses that I think it’s worth focusing on:
Psalms - is literally a song set to music
Hymns - means a celebration of music
Songs - oide (oh-day) means words that are sung
Spiritual - pneumatikos - it means "non carnal"
Melody - the word means to pluck the strings of an instrument.
If we busy ourselves singing to the Lord and giving thanks "for everything" - even the bad stuff - we won’t have time or inclination to let the addictive delights of the world suck us in.
Conclusions
Imitate God - not the world
John 17:15-19 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.
Matthew 10:16 I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.
What you say and what you do matters - for you, and for your brothers and sisters, and for those who don’t know the Lord. So wake up - get a grip - and live like someone who has been saved.
Titus 2:7 In everything set them an example by doing what is good.
Phil 3:17-21 Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. 18 For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
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