In one of Paul's letters, he encourages us to live wisely. Knowledge is having a list of facts. Understanding is grasping the what's, why's and how's. Wisdom is taking knowledge, and understanding, and applying them to situations, that meets the needs, satisfies the situations, or solves the problem. Wisdom could be a ridiculously simple step. Or it could be a long, complex, and obtuse process.
We know God designed, and created, the world. We understand that, in the design, there are laws, principles, and forces in effect that should be agreed to, and followed, to make living pleasant, worthwhile, profitable, and beneficial. Wisdom sees, and walks down a path, that agrees with God's design.
Paul says that, if we are wise, we will know, and understand, God's will. Then we will agree, and follow, it. And he gives four ways to agree and follow.
He begins with "don't get drunk." I do not see Scripture absolutely forbidding alcohol. Jesus created wine. Both the Passover, and the Lord's Supper, have wine included. There are Christian groups, who after witnessing the damage alcohol can produce -- car accidents, addiction, disease, and broken families -- choose a policy of avoidance. One way to solve, what can be a big problem.
But Paul did not say, in this passage, to avoid alcohol. He said do not move to a place where it controls you. Instead, he says we should agree with God, so we are controlled by something else.
A person is controlled by whatever fills them. If they are filled by alcohol, it controls them, and affects how they live. If the Spirit fills them, he controls them, and affects how they live. If alcohol fills them, they bear the fruit of the alcohol. If the Spirit fills them, they bear the fruit of the Spirit.
The second way is to speak Scripture to one another. If we share Scripture, we have our hearts filled with Scripture. If we fill our hearts with what God says, it must flow from our hearts.
Filling our hearts with Scripture, fills our hearts with God's truth, and leads to godly change from the inside out. Sharing Scripture with others helps fill their hearts God's truth, and leads to godly change from the inside out.
Growth does not come from merely, and only, hearing God's Word. Obeying God's Word is required too.
The third way is to sing in our hearts. If we consider all that God has done for us, is doing for us, and will do for us (he has chosen us, he has given us life, and new life, he has brought into his family, he loves and blesses us, he made us his heirs, he has forgiven, justified, redeemed, and reconciled us, and this is a short list!), joy and gratitude will be, and should be our response. And celebration of God, his character, and his acts, ought to naturally arise in our hearts.
The fourth way, also, ought to be a natural reaction: giving thanks in everything. I do not think that means we thank God for everything. We should not thank God for what is not his will. (Abortion is not his will. Racial injustice is not his will. Death is not his will. Disunity in his family is not his will.)
We should be thankful for everything that is his will. And for those situations not in his will, Scripture says he can, and does, use them to promote, advance, complete, and perfect his plans. So, we can be thankful his will is advancing.
Maybe something happens, and we can see something good resulting from something bad. We can be thankful for that something good.
Maybe something happens, and we can only see something bad resulting from something bad. We can be thankful that God will act in it, and his mission will advance from it. And we should return to the third way, and remember all that he has done, is doing, and will do ... and celebrate!
