Ephesians 5:3-10
Verse 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient.
We cannot grow in our maturity in the faith if we are not knowing and holding to the truth. Because of that we need to make sure we can identify truth. To identify truth we need to be honest with ourselves about what is a lie. There are so many things in our world which the world would like us to think are normal, but as Christians we need to know what is true about it and what that means our relationship with it should be.
Paul lists some things in this passage which seem like obvious things of the world and yet knowing they aren’t good things to do doesn’t always keep us from doing them. This is where living a life of truth may seem more difficult. If we are Christians and yet do things we know we shouldn’t, we are lying by action. This is why Paul saw the need for his friends in Ephesus to see how they can be deceived through empty words.
The words they can be deceived by fall into those categories he had already listed. Words are an important part of our world which we have to learn to use in the best way possible. Our ears are inundated day in and day out by words from all kinds of sources, the TV, radio, internet, podcasts, friends, coworkers, strangers. There is no way to avoid words as they come in spoken and written form and are our main source of communication. But we need to ask ourselves what we are communicating and what we are allowing to be communicated to us.
Since we need to watch truth in our lives both from the giving and receiving it is important to be aware of who we are partnering with. This doesn’t just mean in business or marriage, though both of those are important relationships to guard, if we are choosing friends who don’t live and speak truth we are more likely to walk away from truth ourselves.
Solomon understood the wisdom in choosing friends carefully when he wrote, “The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.” (Proverbs 12:26) and “Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.” (Proverbs 13:20) Choosing truth is a day by day decision which sets us on the right course for adding the rest of our armor.
Making It Personal
Do you have times where your life, speech or thoughts lack the purity of truth? What influences do you have in your life which lead you away from truth? Do you have friends which you may need to stop hanging out with?
Making It Personal Kids
Why is it important to be careful who your friends are? Do you have any friends which can lead you away from the way Jesus wants you to live? Do you live in a way that draws your friends away from Jesus or towards Him?
Closing Prayer
Father, You have given us pure wisdom about how to live a life of truth. Please give us wisdom in our choices of friends and influences so we can continue living a life of truth. In Jesus’ name, amen.