“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making
the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:15-16
We are in a generation where everybody has different perspective
and opinion on things. Media is a great
influence on one’s thinking. Television,
news on the radio, newspapers, magazines, Facebook, twitter, etc. are what
people depend on to get ideas on what’s going on around us. We read books and articles that talks about
life, how to be happy, how to copy up with stress, etc. We watch movies that make us feel good. And we get carried away with them. We believe in what we learn from those
sources.
Our text tells us to be careful how we live because the days are
evil. The world we live in is being controlled
by the enemy. (Matt. 4:8-9a) “The devil
took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world
and their splendor. All this I will give to you…” Since
we know that days are evil and the world is surrounded by evil, we must be
CAREFUL how we live. Not as unwise, but
as wise, we have to make the most of every opportunity.
As Christian women, we must understand that we have been called to
pursue the new life given to us through Jesus Christ. We are a new creation in the Lord, the old is
gone and the new has come. This means
that God saved us because God has a purpose for us, for each of you. Salvation is just the beginning of a new
life. We have been called at an early
age because He sees something in us that can be very useful for His kingdom.
Now we ask, who me? Useful? Yes you. You are useful. If you think you are not, shun that thought because
it is a lie, it is not from God. You
have a purpose and if you do not know what your purpose is, keep on searching,
God will lead you to it.
Setting of priorities can help us fulfill God’s purpose for
us. It can help us organize the things
that we need to do, and most importantly, it can give us direction on how to deal
with our daily lives. We each differ in
what we do. Some are studying, some
working, some are still waiting on God but the common thing among us is God has
a purpose for us. Thus, the need to set
our priorities.
We often allow our urgency to dictate our schedule. We only act on something if it is urgent and
we tend to delay things that are not.
That is called procrastination.
How do we set our priorities in a world such as this?
1. Know your strengths and weaknesses.
By reading God’s word and meditating on it, we get to know who we are
because God’s word is like a mirror, the more we look into it the more we
realize the need to be like Jesus Christ (James 1:23-24). If you do not know your strengths and
weaknesses, ask the Holy Spirit to reveal them to you. There are things we do not know, that others
know. Things we cannot see that others
see. That is called the blind side of
every man. If you are strong enough to
accept criticism, you may ask your friends, classmates, and relatives about
your weaknesses so that you’ll be aware of them. But asking the Holy Spirit is the best way.
2. Surrender
your weakness to the Lord and pray for a change of heart. King David’s prayer was “Create in me a
pure heart, Oh God, and renew a right spirit within me.” Psalms 51:12. Only God can change our hearts. Do not be pressured by people telling you
that you have to be like this, be like that, but know in your heart that God
has the power to change a heart of stone into flesh. What you need to do is to surrender your life
to Him so that He can reign in your heart and effect the necessary changes that
need to be done in your life.
3. Set priorities by planning your
week. We have a
seven-day week – six days to work and the seventh day to rest. Plan the things that you need to do and try
to focus on finishing your tasks. “Commit
to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.” Prov. 16:3. We have to remember that nothing is hidden
from the Lord. NOTHING! God knows all our
plans. He knows our desires. He knows everything. Whether good or bad, God knows them all.
Jeremiah 17:10 says that “I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward
a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve.” In planning your week, include the Lord. Start by praying “Lord, here is my weekly
plans, bless me and guide me, I commit them all to you, establish my plans Lord
that they may succeed. In Jesus name, Amen.”
4. Do not entertain any idea or
principle that is in contrast with what the Bible says. “We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and
take every thought captive to obey Christ.” 2 Cor. 10:5. Do not entertain any worldly ideas. Do not believe in worldly advices. Do not
depend on facebook. Read God’s
word. “Your word is a lamp unto my feet,
and a light unto my path” Psalms 119:105.
The more we read the Bible the easier it will be to set our priorities
because the Bible is the road map to the journey called life.
5. Relax
in God’s presence. “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for
I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
Matt. 11:29. When we are in God’s
presence, no harm can come near us. No
weapon formed against us shall prosper, but all the days of our lives are
surrounded with God’s favor.
Life Verses:
1. “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
Matt. 6:33
2.
“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” 1 Peter
5:7
3. “Do
not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.” Matt. 6:34a
4. “I
have perfect knowledge of every circumstance and situation in life for the
Spirit of Truth dwells in me.” (John 16:13)
5. “I
am strengthened with all might according to His glorious power. I can do all things through Christ who
strengthens me.” Colossians 1:11,
Philippians 4:13)
Back to
our verse, “Make the most of every opportunity”, we must do the best that we can
for God’s glory. In everything that we
do, we must remember that God sees us and He knows every action that we are
doing. Whatever we do, we do it heartily
as to the Lord and not to men for our reward is in heaven. Our labor is not in vain. If there is an opportunity to serve the Lord,
grab it with a cheerful heart…and serving the Lord is not confined to the four
walls of the Sanctuary…service to the Lord is done everyday…wherever you are,
wherever you go…
While
all the things that we do for the Lord are being recorded in heaven, all the ungodly
things we do in secret are seen and are not hidden from the Lord. We can cover ourselves with a beautiful
garment, but the Lord sees what is inside us.
What
truly matters is what the Lord sees in us.
Our days are short as compared to the life we live with Christ in
eternity. The great things that we
accomplish on earth, our success, our achievements, will be forgotten when we
die…but all the things we do for the Lord are never in vain.
Be
careful how you live. Set your
priorities well. Live wisely. King Solomon said, “there is a time for
everything, and a season for every activity under heaven, be happy while you
are young, follow the ways of your heart and whatever your eyes see, but know
that for all these things God will bring you to judgment.” Ecc. 3:1, 11:9
