Ephesians 5:15

“Look therefore carefully how ye walk, not as unwise, but as wise”

“Look therefore”: “The present tense means to ‘watch and keep on watching' in an accurate, careful way” (Boles p. 305). “Carefully”: Circumspectly and diligently. “Take great care, then, how you live” (TCNT). “Circumspectly involves ‘looking around on all sides'” (Caldwell p. 246). “Everything worth doing requires care. We all take trouble over the things which seem to us to matter. So Christians must take trouble over our Christian life. We must treat it as the serious thing it is” (Stott pp. 201-202). Each individual Christian is required to examine their own life. The responsibility for me remaining faithful, lies in my own hands (2 Corinthians 13:5; 2 Corinthians 1:1 CorinthiansEphesians 11:28).

“Each individual must verify his own conversion: first by continued study of the word of God, and second by observant, perspective, considered self-examination. We ought to discern our own true spiritual condition” (Caldwell p. 246). This demands that such. verification is possible, which infers that the word of God presents. clear standard of faithfulness, and people can be honest enough to see if they presently measure up.

“Not as unwise but as wise”: “Do not act thoughtlessly, but like sensible men” (Gspd). “Like sensible men, not like simpletons” (NEB). The Pulpit Commentary made. good observation when it says, “See that you walk strictly, but consider well the kind of strictness. Many are strict who are not wisely strict; they have rules, but not good rules” (p. 210). Walking in wisdom means that you remain just as "conservative" as God is and no more (Colossians 2:20). “Wisdom is more than simple knowledge. It is understanding how to use what we know” (Caldwell p. 246). “Wisdom is the ability to see things (their true worth) as God sees them, and act accordingly” (Boles p. 306). God expects Christians to be discerning and wise (Matthew 10:16). Gullible and naive Christians only hurt God's cause. “What, therefore, are the marks of wise people who take trouble over their Christian discipleship?” (Stott p. 202).