Ephesians 5:15 says, “Therefore consider carefully how you live–not as unwise but as wise.” Why are we to live as wise people? Paul tells us in verse 16, “because the days are evil.”
There was a lot of evil during the time of Esther just like there is today. Esther will be called to the court of a king whose lifestyle is extravagant and excessive. This will become quite clear when we study how he went about finding a new queen.
Esther will have to tread carefully and live wisely in order to save her people.
When it comes to evil, our culture is not much different. You can’t turn on the TV without seeing some of the horrible things happening in the world. Some of it is saddening, and some of it is terrifying. It is not just abroad but also in our very own hometowns. Evil is everywhere.
Paul is reminding us that because there is sin and evil in the world, we must live carefully.
So how do we engage our culture that has so much evil in it? Here are a few points that will help us think about our culture.
1. Reject what is evil.
There are a lot of terrible things in our world. Evils like human trafficking, porn, and racism are just a few of the obvious ones. But there are also some that are not so obvious. Materialism, discontentment, selfishness, laziness, and entitlement are also evils that need to be rejected and fought against.
2. Embrace what is good.
There is a lot of beauty and truth in the world. All humans are created in the image of God, which gives each human value and meaning. Creativity is one of the characteristics we have because we are created in God’s image. Therefore, we can enjoy and appreciate some amazing art and music. We can also embrace humanitarian causes, disaster relief, random acts of kindness, and many of the festivals and fairs our communities put on.
3. Redeem what is broken.
There are some things in our culture that are broken and need to be redeemed. Things like the educational system, government, families and marriages, people’s lives, and neighborhoods, just to name a few.
The world is a broken place, but we have been sent here for a mission. While we are not to view this world as our home, we are to be in it but not of it (Romans 12:2), and this takes wisdom. Thankfully, for those who have trusted in Jesus, we have access to the God of all Wisdom who will guide us daily through the Holy Spirit. May your days be marked by wise living and worship of our good and faithful God.
