“A word fitly spoken is like APPLES OF GOLD in a setting of silver” Proverbs 25v11
The Book of Ephesians gives us five pointers on how to live. Last week we considered the first which is to live worthy of our calling, and today we consider a life of purpose as found in chapter 4v17: “So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.” We live in a material and secular society of celebrity worship. Social media promises happiness and fulfillment if we emulate them or live vicariously through them. But as we read in the Book of Ecclesiastes, such a mindset leads to a meaningless existence or a chasing after the wind. Even people who identify themselves as Christians live lives that are superficial and futile in terms of eternal values.
A wake-up call is to spend a few minutes remembering what we spent our energy and time on this last week and whether it made for real happiness. As we continue our reading, verse 22 is a metaphor about dressing and undressing. When our clothes get stained and grubby, we do the sensible thing and take them off and put on fresh. It is a reminder for us to put off our corrupt old self and put on the new self in true righteousness and holiness. Nobody slips the new over the old because soon the stains and dirt start showing through – similarly unless we take off our old nature the stains will soon be seen spoiling the new nature. From verse 25 onwards there are some practical examples – put off falsehood (and this includes being economical with the truth and only telling part of the story) and speak truthfully. There is nothing wrong with anger (v26), but if we are angry with other people, we must resolve the issue before we go to bed. Festering anger is a cancer and if Christians don’t let go of their anger, they give the devil a foothold (v27) and their relationship with the Lord is affected. Verse 29 makes it clear that we also need to put off unwholesome talk which destroys, but instead speak words to build each other up. Nobody wants to be living in a house where the horrible qualities mentioned in verse 31 are normal so spare a thought for the Holy Spirit who, because He indwells us, is grieved when He has to share His accommodation with so much garbage which we store in our hearts.
How joyful He must be when we embrace the qualities of verse 32: “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you”. God never expects us to do what He hasn’t done – so when I look at myself and how God has forgiven me, how can I not forgive others? Practical and victorious Christian living needs action so don’t cop out by leaving it to God – God does the impossible and we have to do the possible. In conclusion, I challenge each of us to cross the Rubicon and pray for forgiveness – unforgiveness is the root of so much futile living and grieves the Holy Spirit.
God Bless
Graeme Greenwood