Sing a Song of Wisdom
Proverbs 9:1-6 and Ephesians 5:15-20
13th Sunday after Pentecost
August 18, 2024
Interestingly, when we are born, we cannot speak. We have to cry out for help. There is something within us that we are born with that tells us when we need something. It’s like we are born with a certain amount of wisdom.
Then from a very early age, we are directed how to live. “Don’t touch that, it’s hot.” “It’s time to take a bath, and get the dirt off.” “You can’t have dessert until you eat your vegetables.”
In our scripture text this morning, Paul is that parent giving instruction to the people of Ephesus on how to live with wisdom. Paul wanted the people to wake up to the wisdom with which they were born, and add more to it.
I believe the wisdom we are born with is what directs our conscious, and how we move forward in life, taking in all the wisdom along the way that we learn, is a result of our conscious and our actions.
Paul starts out saying, “Be careful.” How many times have we heard that in life? “Be careful where you step.” I grew up in the country, so I was told that A LOT because it was my clue to watch for snakes, and to watch for other undesirable things I did not want to step in where the animals had walked before me.
“Be careful not to eat too much.” “Be careful driving.”
I’m sure we can all think of a hundred or more different things that we have been told to be careful about.
Paul just makes it all-inclusive, “Be careful how you live.” That just leaves nothing out of the equation.
Be careful and be wise. This is Paul’s message on how we are to live because the days are evil. There is always something out there to devour us when we let our guard down, so when we use our wisdom, we are alert and ready to take action if needed.
Paul starts with the reason to be careful is to make the most of the time. Make the most of the present moment that you are in. Don’t look back on the past, where maybe you didn’t live so wisely, and don’t worry into the future where there are no assurances, rather just stay focused, wisely, on the here and now. Live in the moment with all the knowledge you have been given to live with understanding of the will of the Lord.
It’s easy to be foolish when we don’t take a moment to consider if what we are doing is the will of the Lord.
We can see the evil in the world and get weighed down in depression, or we can volunteer at church, a community center, or at the hospital. Focusing on how things in the world are going downhill, doesn’t bring any good to you or the people around you who you can be helping right now at this time.
Paul’s next instruction is not to get drunk with wine, and he uses the example of wine because the people of Ephesus worshiped the god of wine; however, in the definition of the term debauchery, Paul is referring to anything in excess is foolishness.
Today, we can consider the gods that are being worshipped which include drugs, too much food, too much shopping and yes, even today, still too much alcohol.
When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we have no need for these things in excess, and can allow ourselves to be led by the Holy Spirit. Just like when we are born without words to say, we know when we have a need, and we cry out. That same wisdom can lead us to cry out for the Holy Spirit and be led by the will of God.
We might think we don’t know what the will of the Lord is, but we do. We know, just like we know we shouldn’t be texting and driving. We know Jesus didn’t sit at home and dwell on how bad things were in the world, and he surely knew how bad things were around him, but he went out into the world and faced it head on. Jesus definitely lived in the moment. He might have been walking to heal someone, but when another touched his garment, he stopped to engage that person before moving on to his original mission. Yes, Jesus definitely knew how to live in the moment, and he provided us with the wisdom to do the same.
Being filled with the Holy Spirit allows us to gain wisdom and shift our energy toward a new perspective. It allows us to sing with joy. And it we don’t just sing with joy, we feel the melody in our hearts.
Seeing the struggles of the people of Ephesus, Paul gives the people a new way of looking at life, a way that was filled with wisdom and the divine spirit that created space for growth, understanding and praise.
Certainly, these people faced the same types of struggles and pressures that we do even today. We live in a world that is filled with high-pressure expectations and severe judgements that leave no room for the Holy Spirit to grow within us when we don’t focus on God’s will for our lives.
Over the last several Wednesday’s, those of us who have been enjoying our WILD art classes have allowed our imaginations to be stretched in abundant ways. We can use this same imagination to bend and stretch so that it encompasses moving toward God and embracing what it means to have abundant life.
Do we have abundant life when we are at home fretting about what tomorrow will bring in a world filled with evil, or do we find abundant life when we are out helping others?
What if we started living in the moment in community? There is wisdom in each one of us, and there is also wisdom in seeing, hearing, learning and feeling connections with others.
I would be willing to bet that if we started on one side of the church, and asked everyone to give us a word of wisdom, every person in here could give a different piece of wisdom that might help us make our load lighter, or give us a new perspective on how to look at something we might not have previously considered.
So not only do we find wisdom that is born within us, wisdom that we learn from our parents and teachers, but we also find wisdom in community.
This scripture asks the original audience in Ephesus, and us today to seek wisdom, abandon foolishness and to praise God and give thanks for what we have.
God has created a world of unique people, animals, plants and creatures of all types that we interact with every day, and this is reason enough to sing a song of wisdom with praise and thanksgiving for all that we have been provided.
Allowing ourselves to be filled with and led by the divine Spirit moves us away from selfish desires and toward something bigger as part of all of God’s creation. We are called to live in the spirit of community with others that are not foolish, and to share in resources that lead to the restoration of heaven on earth.
The wisdom we share with one another should bend toward the kingdom of God, regardless of our denomination or our politics.
When we allow the Holy Spirit and ourselves to have a mutual relationship, we are then able to have a mutual relationship with others filled with the Holy Spirit, and this brings one focus in speaking and making music in praise and gratitude for our Lord.
Let us lay aside immaturity, and live, and walk in the way of insight, for surely wisdom has built her house. Let us sing together a song of wisdom!
(Silent Reflection)
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE and THE LORD’S PRAYER
Merciful God, hear our prayers this day as we pray for the needs of the world. We pray for the church in every land that you confirm us with hearts of Jesus’ disciples with a will to serve and love our neighbors, and yes, even our enemies, too, Lord. We pray for all who lead your church, and ask you strengthen them to be faithful in their calling and humble in their service, as well as those who lead the churches throughout the world. We pray for those who govern the nations and exercise authority in civic life, and ask that you give our governing officials wisdom in the ways of peace and justice. Have mercy O Lord and shower your mercy upon these leaders that they live with a determination to pursue the common good for their people rather than for themselves. Healing God, we pray for the sick, the poor, and the oppressed and ask you help those who are in trouble as we pause to remember all those who have asked for our prayers___________________________________________________________.
Hear our prayers O Lord for these we know and love, and stir up in us a desire to be your instruments in the relief of human misery for all those in need throughout our community and in the world. Creator God we pray for our planet Earth, that we help yield crops and creatures in abundance for healthy resources for humankind with the will to use these resources wisely. Hear the prayers of your people and grant that what we ask in faith we may receive according to your gracious love, through Jesus Christ, our Lord we pray, and who taught us these words of prayer to say, Our Father, who art in heaven……..Amen.