15 Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise,
16 making the most of your time, because the days are evil.
17 So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
Vs. 15 - “Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise,”
“Therefore be careful how you walk” - Take care in how you live out your Christian life. The world around you will be watching - ready to pounce if you stray, ready to cry “Hypocrite! Hypocrite!” Ready to pronounce you a failure as a Christian. Whereas others may try to keep parts of their lifestyle hidden, yours should open for all to see.
“not as unwise men but as wise” - 'Unwise' is living as if God does not exist, or doesn’t care how you live. See: “For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any double-edged sword, piercing even to the point of dividing soul from spirit, and joints from marrow; it is able to judge the desires and thoughts of the heart. And no creature is hidden from God, but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must render an account.” (Heb 4:12-13)
The essence of being ‘wise’, especially in the Wisdom writings in the Old Testament, is following God’s word or commands. Ignoring God, or turning on Him is unwise. See: “Do you thus repay the LORD, O foolish and unwise people? Is not He your Father who has bought you? He has made you and established you.“ (Deut 32:6) God is telling them, “After all that I have done for you; things you could never have done for yourself...”
“making the most of your time” - A saying circulated a few years ago, “You are confusing motion with progress.” Another asked the question, “You say you have 15 years of experience of Christian life, are you sure it isn’t 1 year’s experience 15 times?” Paul is urging them to be sure they are focusing on Jesus and what He wants done. Listen to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Follow Him where He leads. Otherwise you are ‘running in place’, getting all sweaty and exhausted but getting nowhere.
“because the days are evil” - We live in a fallen and broken world - it seems all the days are fraught with evil. We know that Satan is always working to frustrate the cause and ministry of the church. The best way to get us to follow false teachings is to make them an admixture of the truth and lies. Most will not be sucked in by the outrageous big lie, such as stuff you see in movies - e.g., “The DaVinci Code” - or heresies such as Mary Magdalene and Jesus were sexual partners. But more subtle jabs, such the TV series “The Good Place”, or “God Friended Me”, are portraying God as needing help, or just not aware of what is happening. (I am not saying these TV comedies are evil - they don’t have a scriptural basis.) We always must be aware, checking what we are being told or taught with scripture.
Vs. 17 - “So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”
“Do not be foolish” - Don’t be deceived by false teachers. We can be lead on the wrong path, if what is being taught is almost correct; it has that hint of believability. Compare the teachings to the Bible. See: “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” (1 John 4:1)
“But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.” (2 Cor 11:3 , Also: James 1:16; 1 Cor 15:33)
“We proclaim him by instructing and teaching all people with all wisdom so that we may present every person mature in Christ.” (Col 1:28)
“I say this so that no one will deceive you through arguments that sound reasonable.” (Col 2:4)
“Be careful not to allow anyone to captivate you through an empty, deceitful philosophy that is according to human traditions and the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.” ( Col 2:8 )
“Understand what the will of the Lord” - One of the reasons I love my faith, Christianity, is that it is simple yet deep; it is pure and uncluttered. No secret handshakes, no mysterious puzzles to solve. No secret ‘knowledge’ available to only a select few - who we must ‘trust’ since they have it and we don’t. No pilgrimages, no quests, nothing I need to do except believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as my Savior. He paid the penalty for the sin of the world - mine are lumped in there. He died. He is resurrected and sitting with God the Father, ready to welcome me to my new home with them. It will be a joyous wedding of church as the bride and the Lord Jesus as the bridegroom. God’s will is that I will be with face-to-face to commune and worship, and share His glory!
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