Ephesians 5:15-20 NRSV

[15] Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise,

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

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

[18] Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit,

[19] as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts,

[20] giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

THE MESSAGE:

[15] So watch your step. Use your head.

[16] Make the most of every chance you get. These are desperate times!

[17] Don't live carelessly, unthinkingly. Make sure you understand what the Master wants.

[18] Don't drink too much wine. That cheapens your life. Drink the Spirit of God, huge draughts of him.

[19] Sing hymns instead of drinking songs! Sing songs from your heart to Christ.

[20] Sing praises over everything, any excuse for a song to God the Father in the name of our Master, Jesus Christ.

INTRODUCTION:

Seven year old little Tommy was trying to teach his younger brother how to sing "Row, Row Your Boat" in a round. His little brother kept missing his cue. So Tommy said, "Let me sing the whole song by myself." So he began and sang "Merrily, Merrily, Merrily, Merrily, Life is full of beans!" (1)

That sounds suspiciously like Paul in this letter doesn't it. Actually it sounds more like a cross between Tommy and the Sergeant from the old TV show Hill Street Blues. If you were a fan, you'll remember that, after giving out the daily assignments, the Sarge would always say: "Now you be careful out there."

And that's basically what Paul says. The King James Version may very well be the root behind why we talk about living out our faith as a "walk of life." The KJV translates verse 15 as: "See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise."

We might say, "Be careful how you walk." And that's pretty good advice.

At night when it's dark and you can't see, it's imperative that you "be careful where you walk." You just might stub your toe, step on the dog, trip over something or knock something over.

If you're walking through a field full of cattle it's imperative the you "be careful where you walk." You might step in the middle of a fire ant mound. (You thought I was going to say something else.)

But in the everyday life of living our faith, it's different. In our life of faith, it's imperative that you "be careful how you walk." Or as the New Revised Standard Version puts it "be careful how you live."

If you are on a tight wire either practicing or performing in front of a crowd, it's imperative that you "be careful how you walk."

If you are a new Christian trying to live up to the example of Christ in front of your non-Christian friends, it's imperative that you "be careful how you live."

If you are a parent wanting to be a good influence and teach your children the difference between right and wrong it's imperative that you "be careful how you live."

If you want to make a difference in the world or in the lives of others, it's imperative that you "be careful how you live."

I like the way the Message by Eugene Peterson puts it: "So watch your step. Use your head."

Of course, the operative question might very well be, "Why?"

Paul addresses that as well. Paul writes: "Be careful then how you live . . . because the days are evil." (NRSV) But again, I like how the Message puts it: "Watch your step . . . These are desperate times!"

All of this is wonderful advice, because no matter how you translate it, "These are desperate times." I'd even go so far as to say that sometimes, "The days are evil." How else do you explain things like AIDS? The Columbine High School or Ft. Worth Church shootings? How else do you explain how the wealthiest country in the world can have children going hungry? Or that the child poverty level has gone up while unemployment has gone down?

Those examples only scratch the surface of just how desperate our times really are. There are times when we all feel like Billy in last Sunday's Family Circus comic strip. Do you remember it? Billy is at the beach. He has been building a sand castle and the tide is coming in. He has the most forlorn look on his face. He has his arms spread trying to hold the water at bay, and he is saying: "No, ocean! Stop! No! No! Go back! . . . Please?" (2)

We don't always like to admit it. But sometimes life gets that desperate. Sometimes it feels like the tides are coming in and the sand castle of our neat little lives is going to be washed away. How do you handle it? Just like you do everything else that's fragile in life. "You handle it with care." And you have to be prepared. Paul give us some great advice on how to be prepared.

I. DEVELOP A PRIME TIME PARADIGM::

In this passage, Paul tells us to Develop A Prime Time Paradigm.

Actually he says in verse 16: "Make the most of the time." Or as the Message puts it: "Make the most of every chance you get." And that's what I mean by Developing A Prime Time Paradigm.

I know some people who have chosen "Make the most of the time," as their business paradigm. Their whole purpose in life seems to be to make the most money and acquire the most stuff. Their motto is the old bumper sticker that says: "The one with the most toys wins."

But that's not what's important. Scripture says that relationships and people are what's important. Our relationship with God has to be first in our life. Therefore it has to be first on our priority list.

Then comes family. These are the two areas of our lives that should be receiving the "Prime Time."

So ask yourself. What's the most important thing in your life? Your kids or money? Your family or your job?

Training up your children and giving them a solid foundation upon which to live or pleasing the boss, making a few extra bucks or buying that new whatever?

What's more important? Your relationship with God or your relationship with your golfing buddies? Your prayer life or your night life? What you put in your stomach or what goes into your head and heart?

I think it's pretty obvious what God thinks and what the Bible teaches. I know that doesn't help with the tension it causes you or your life? The tension it causes between you and your boss. Please don't go and tell your boss that your preacher said you had to ditch work to spend time with your kids and family. But be creative in the structure of your time. Make family a part of your Prime Time.

Wouldn't it be horrible to have every thing you've ever dreamed of owning but lose your children?

Develop A Prime Time Paradigm.