First Presbyterian Church
647 East Market Street
Akron, Ohio 44304-1684
330-434-5183

Food for Thought: Keeping Your Eyes, Ears, and Mind Sharp

August 20 , 2006

Dr. Mark Ruppert

Ephesians 5:15-20

Back in July when I was looking at the church calendar for the month of August and praying and thinking about my preaching schedule, when I got to August 20, there printed on the calendar were these words, Young People in the Church.  And it is not just because I have two teenage daughters that I have an interest in the youth of our church and community.  It is because I do, yes I do remember when I was growing up, and how much of an integral part my parents, family, school, coaches, parents of my friends, and especially the church played in my life.  And then having been engaged in youth ministry in my earlier years and watching those young people grow up and mature and now begin their own families, and having been here, at this church going on 13 years and watching those youth who were so young at the time we arrived in Akron go off to college or go out on their own and now come back to this church for visits or to get married it is crucial that the church take a proactive role when it comes to the lives of young people. 

And so when I looked over the scripture passages that were suggested on the church calendar for today, those passage being I Kings 2:10-12, 3:3-14 which tells us that King David died and was buried and then goes on to tell us about his son Solomon who has a dream and in that dream prays for wisdom and receives it- and I thought, now we are getting somewhere.  And Psalm 111, which is a hymn of praise to the Lord for His great deeds.  And John 6:51-58, which speaks about Jesus as the living bread of life.  And Ephesians 5:15-20, which is our passage, and if you look at the whole chapter it illustrates Christian conduct and also talks about wisdom, I thought, Ephesians 5 is the passage we will look at as we think about Young People in the Church, because surely young people want, need, desire wisdom, right?  And then I tried to think back to my youth.

When I was in grade school, or middle school, or high school did I desire wisdom?  Maybe at those crucial times in my life when I was walking in to take a test and I hadn’t studied like I should I was praying that I would have the wisdom to select the right answer or be wise enough for the teacher to at least think I knew what I was writing about.  But for me to have sat down and actually prayed for wisdom over the long haul, well…  And yet if I had made that a part of my prayer life when I was younger, well, let’s say it certainly would not have hurt. 

And so as we get into this sermon today it is not only for young people in the church since that is what the church calendar suggests, it is for all of us who are living in the here and now, for those who are giving it their best shot in life and trying their best.  It is for those who recognize that life is tough, that we live in an imperfect world made up of imperfect people.

That the society can be even down right hostile and so we need to ask God for wisdom because the practice of wisdom in everyday life set against a hostile world challenges us to engage in moral activities and choices.  The Apostle Paul who wrote Ephesians wants to call the believer to wisdom that is set over and against the folly of the surrounding pagan world.  So let’s look at this passage and see what it says to people of all ages.

First, Life goes by QUICKLY.  When we arrived in Akron 12 years ago in 1994 Rebecca was in kindergarten, she was 6 and Ashley was 3.  Today, 2006, Rebecca goes off to college this Friday and Ashley begins her sophomore year at Firestone High School.  The Apostle Paul who wrote Ephesians knew how fragile, how short life was that is why he says in verse 15, “Be careful then how you live.”  And even though life is short, Paul would be the first to tell you to live life to it’s fullest, embrace life and make a difference for God in all that you do.
It was Benjamin Franklin who once said, “Don’t waste time, it is the stuff of which life is made.” 

The second thing Paul focuses on is Making the Most of the TIME.  Another way to say this is make the most of every opportunity.  I don’t’ know about you but I know I need to watch less and read more.  It is so tempting when I get home after a long day to just want to veg and watch sometimes nothingness on the TV.  To watch some program where I don’t have to think.  How much more productive might my time be spent reading a good book that might stretch me and challenge me.  Or instead of watching the TV play a game with the family. 

There are so many times in life that we are faced with choices.  We can make good choices or bad ones.  And that is why wisdom is something good for all of us to pray for.

That is why we need to keep our eyes open- looking, watching, observing so that we can see that which is good and we can see through that which looks harmless, looks adventurous but could lead to disaster.  That is why we need to keep our ears open- listening so we can distinguish that which is true and good and pure from that which is a lie and destructive.  That is why we need to keep our minds sharp- a la pray for wisdom so that we can make the most of every opportunity. 

Let me share with you how the wrong choice can have long term effects.  In Florida there were two young men who wanted to win the admiration of fraternity brothers and so one night, they removed a stop sign and brought it back to the frat house as a trophy.  And then, over here in Tennessee, a young lad wanted to try something that looked adventuresome while his friend looked on and so he slid down a trash shoot.
The two Florida boys were convicted of manslaughter after a fatal accident happened at the intersection.  And the Tennessee boy who slid down the trash shoot was killed by an automatic trash compactor and his friend was traumatized with guilt and grief.  Some spur of the moment choices can have lasting consequences.  That is why praying for wisdom is not something that should be taken lightly

Paul tells us we need to be careful how we live, not as unwise people but as wise.  He tells us we need to make the most of the time because, why?  Because the days are evil.  And folks have things gotten any better since Paul wrote this?  Are the days still evil?  You bet.

And so what Paul would want, no, even more than Paul, what God would want is for us is to, and this is the third point, Understand what the WILL of the Lord is.  Now understanding the will of the Lord is a task that is not to be taken lightly.

Let me tell you what was happening back in Paul’s day that prompted him to say this. The followers of Jesus Christ were being persecuted, there was evil and debauchery and sexual immorality due to the pagan world with the multiple gods, not to mention the fertility gods.  And there was this expectation that Jesus was going to return soon.  So it was essential for the Christian to keep their senses awake.  To keep their eyes, ears and mind sharp so that they could evaluate every situation and on every occasion seek what God would want them to do.  I ask you, has that need ever changed?  Haven’t Christians down throughout the ages, don’t we, need to seek to understand what the will of the Lord is for each one of us? 

And so how do we seek the will of the Lord?  That is why it is crucial when you are young that you develop godly, spiritual habits that you will carry with you for the rest of your life.

Those godly, spiritual habits include the regular disciplines of READING THE WORD OF GOD, PRAYER, CORPORATE WORSHIP, AND FELLOWSHIPPING WITH OTHER BELIEVERS.  It is in listening to the Word of God, it is in talking to the Lord and other believers who are also talking and listening and walking with the Lord, that his will can be clarified to us. 

And so, no matter what your age, we need to KEEP OUR EYES, EARS AND MINDS SHARP by keeping our focus on the Lord.  By seeking, by asking God for wisdom so that we make the right choices.  By staying close to the Lord and the church and the people of the church.  By asking God to fill each of us with the Spirit, by never relaxing our witness or settling for lower moral standards.  Why?  Because the days are evil and the evil one, Satan would love nothing more than to feed you a pack of lies and trip you up so that you become complacent, and worldly so that you forget who you are, a child of God, a child of the covenant.  So be careful, no matter what your age, be smart, no matter how old you are, be wise and don’t forget to seek His will and live for Him.  Amen.

Key Points

Introduction: August 20, 2006--Young People in the Church

Wisdom

What Eph. 5:15-20 has to say to people of all ages

First, Life goes by ________  vs. 15

Second, Making the most of the ________  vs. 16

So many times in life we are faced with choices

The days are evil

Third, Understand what the _____ of the Lord is vs. 17

Those godly, spiritual habits…

Conclusion: No matter what your age, we need to keep our eyes, ears and minds sharp by keeping them focused on the Lord

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)