Young People's Group

Seeking to Live Well as Saints

by Mitchell Tan
September 18, 2020

THE CHALLENGE TO DO THAT WHICH IS FITTING FOR SAINTS

The influence of the world is far more real and grave than we realize. It can still continue to exert its influence on us even though we have been saved by the Lord. The apostle Paul sought to challenge the Ephesians to live their life in a way that was fitting for saints.

“As is fitting for saints”
Ephesians 5:3

“Which are not fitting”
Ephesians 5:4

The word “fitting” has the idea of expectations and requirements that the Lord had set for the Ephesians. They were to understand and to practice that which is fitting and avoid what is not. There were things that were proper and appropriate for them to live by. As saints, they have been saved by the Lord. They were saints in His eyes. The challenge now is to live up to being saints.

AVOID TOTALLY SPEAKING ABOUT SINS THAT GRAVELY INFLUENCE

“But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not be even named among you”
Ephesians 5:3

There are some sins that should not even be talked about. Their influence could be damaging even by just mentioning them. Fornication has the idea of sexual immorality. This is with reference to the lust of the flesh. One of the grave problems that they had then was temple prostitution. There were all kinds of unclean things done that could defile the body. It causes people to be corrupted. This was a command from the apostle Paul. The mention of such sins could sully the mind. It can create sinful thoughts that would lead to sinful actions. We are to totally avoid them.

REJECTING THE SIN OF COVETOUSNESS

“Nor covetous man, who is an idolator”
Ephesians 5:5

The word “covetousness” has the idea of being greedy, even obsessed for money and wealth. There were those who were focused on obtaining riches and they were identified by Paul as idolators. These were worshipping idols because they were desirous for material gains. Ephesus during the times of Paul was a vibrant commercial city that was situated at an intersection of trade routes and it was specially known for its worship of the goddess Diana. There were craftsmen who made their wealth through the making of silver shrines of Diana (Acts 19:24-25). It was through this trade that they made “no small profit” and gained prosperity. This was probably one of the things that Paul had in mind as he dealt with this problem of covetousness. The Lord Jesus had taught His disciples about laying their treasures in heaven and not on earth (Matthew 6:19-20). He also taught about how they can only have one master. They cannot serve God and mammon at the same time (Matthew 6:24). Paul also warned about the consequences of having a love of money.

“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”
1 Timothy 6:10

The love of money is the root cause of all kinds of evil deeds. People had been seduced by it, led astray from the faith and they have ended up with great sorrow in their heart. The challenge is for us to reject this sin of covetousness and to learn to be contented with what God has blessed us with in life. Godliness with contentment is great gain (1 Timothy 6:6).

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