Our girls grew up without cell phones. They were around, but they did not have them until they went to college. We had a rule that they needed to let us know where they were and what they were doing. That meant they had to find a “land line” and call us. In high school, they had various jobs, and they would call us when they were leaving work to head home. Those conversations went something like this: “Hi Dad, I’m leaving now,” to which I replied, “O.K. Be Careful!” As I said those words I could hear my parents telling me the same thing countless times as I was growing up, especially after I started driving. After all, parents know all the things that can go wrong. That’s why they warn and plead, “Be Careful.” But most times I said those words “Be Careful,” I’m sure my daughters dismissed them as easily as I did. After all, kids know enough that they don’t really need their parents telling them what to do! However, in the hope that it might somehow get through and have some kind of effect, I continued to urge my children “Be Careful.” In fact, I still do.

God does the same thing. Because He loves us so much and is so concerned about each and every one of us, He urges us to “Be Careful.” He led Paul to share those words with the Ephesians. I’m sure that as he was speaking God’s Word, Paul was hoping that people would not easily dismiss the words of caution and warning he was sharing.

Ephesians 5:15-20  Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Be careful how you live. In urging us to live a certain way, Paul points out what should be obvious: there is an opposite way to live. He warns us not to live as unwise, but as wise. You and I need to live with the wisdom God gives. And that wisdom we need is itself a gift from God. All we have to do is ask for it, as we are told in James:

James 1:5 – If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

And what is the wisdom we need? Paul spelled that out in his first letter to the Corinthians:

1 Corinthians 1:24 …to those whom God has called …Christ [is] the power of God and the wisdom of God. 

Jesus Christ is the wisdom of God that you need, the wisdom that has been given to you. With faith in Christ you are a new creation, you cast off the old way of life and embrace a new way of living, not as unwise, but as wise. You know and understand and believe that His death and resurrection makes all the difference in the world for you.

Those who are unwise, those who are without Christ in their lives, have no understanding. These are the people who live all around us and who hold positions of power and influence in our world. They have no insight into the things that pertain to God and salvation. The unwise regard the things of this world as being most important, things which are at best of fleeting value and often times even harmful. The unwise do not appreciate what is truly valuable.

Those who have the wisdom that comes from God, the wisdom that knows Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, will use it to size up a situation and make a good choice. A big part of wise living is looking past the here and now and instant gratification, thinking instead about the long haul. How will what I do today impact the rest of my life? How will what I say today influence others in their relationship with Jesus Christ? If you are careful to live wisely, you will see the time you have for the valuable commodity that it is, making the most of every opportunity. A missed opportunity never returns. Those who let the wisdom God gives direct their lives will take each opportunity that presents itself to let their lives show the glory of the Gospel to others. That’s being careful how you live and  making the most of every opportunity.