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WATCH CAREFULLY (EPHESIANS 5:15-20)

REFLECTION

Watch carefully is the theme for our reflection. To watch carefully means to give serious attention to what you are doing, in order to avoid harm, damage, or mistakes. Watch carefully is a piece of advice offered concerning prudent future action. We shall reflect on the fact that because the days are evil and full of temptations, we must watch carefully by being wise.

Beloved in the Lord, Paul admonished the Church of Ephesus to watch carefully by being sober, wise and filled with the Holy Spirit. Paul strongly admonished the Christians in Ephesus, “Be very careful, then, how you live —not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery.” (Ephesians 5:15-18). John Wesley also taught and campaigned against drinking hard liquor and profiting from the sales of spirits. In the eighteenth century, there was an explosive growth of the urban poor, and for the first time, cheap mass-produced spirit became available. Public health suffered, immorality increased and children were neglected as gin was used to seek a temporary escape from the miseries of everyday life. This provided the social context for Wesley’s stance.

In his sermon, “The Use of Money”, John Wesley’s advice to drunkenness is that we should avoid drinking hard liquor such as gin or spirit which leads to drunkenness. Again, believers who are into the manufacturing of beverages or retailing of drinks must not sell alcoholic drinks that will lead to the destruction of their neighbours. In addition, a Christian who operates an inn, guest house or hotel should not serve his or her guest with hard liquor. It is for this reason alcoholic drinks are not served in the Methodist Church during the Eucharist or Holy Communion. John Wesley’s teaching has influenced the Methodist Church to adopt a zero tolerance for alcohol.

We are to drink alcoholic beverages in moderation but to avoid the temptation of drunkenness, we must abstain from drinks or beverages with a high percentage of alcohol. Paul cautions us to “Be very careful, then, how you live —not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.” (Ephesians 5:15-17). We must understand and do the will of God in all things including alcohol consumption.

Drunkenness is one of the sins that renders us unprepared before the advent of the Lord, it is for this reason that Peter admonished us, “The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray.” (1 Peter 4:7) Let us remember that we are disciples of Christ and children of God therefore we must not indulge in gluttony and drunkenness. As children of God, we must “… be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Ephesians 5:18-20) Unfortunately, some Christians are totally ignorant or oblivious to the Word of God. We go on a shopping spree to buy all manner of alcoholic drinks, to consume and get drunk as part of our celebration of our celebrations. Instead of celebrating the love and grace of God at work in our lives and our salvation in Jesus Christ with hymns and other spiritual songs, we rather celebrate our sinfulness and disobedience and make nonsense of God’s gift of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ to the world. To consume alcohol in moderation or totally abstain from it to avoid the temptation of drunkenness, Paul admonished us, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is —his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2)

In summary, we have deliberated on the theme “Watch Carefully” We have been advised to abstain from drunkenness and stop selling and serving hard alcoholic liquor because it will destroy us and our neighbours. Remember, “If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.”( James 4:17) Shalom.

PRAYER

Holy Spirit fill our hearts and minds to overcome the temptation of drunkenness. Strengthen us to remain sober and be physically, morally and spiritually prepared even as we await the second Advent of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.