Ephesians 5:3-4

Day 44

“But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints; and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.” Ephesians 5:3-4

The World of Immorality
For those living outside of faith in Christ, all individuals struggle under the dominating force of our natural, sinful desires.  When Paul described the before and after of salvation in Ephesians 2, he described the life we lived prior to believing in Jesus.  Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. (Ephesians 2:3)  Prior to becoming a believer, we indulged the desires of the flesh and of the mind.  In other words, we lived in thought and action for our own selfish desires.  Immorality, impurity, and greed, all focus on desires that we seek in order to please ourselves.  “How do I feel?” “What can I get away with to make me happy?” That was our old life.  Now in Christ, those old ways must be put aside.  Immorality primarily stresses the realm of sexual immorality.  This concerns any sexual expression outside the covenant of marriage.  The term impurity cast a broader net including and going beyond just sexual sins.  Impurity is like the mixture of toxins in a glass of water.  It poisons the entire environment. Impurity is the sinful pursuit of any pleasure. Greedy people accumulate possessions to the detriment of others while often ignoring the needs of others.  Ultimately, all three of these sins violate the believer’s call to a righteous life.  These selfish attitudes and actions have no place in the community of the church.  As Paul told the Ephesian church, they should not even be part of the discussion when it comes to the behavior of believers.

That’s Really Not Funny
American comedy brings with it some laughs but also many concerning features.  Much of stand-up routines, sitcom television, and comedy movies cross serious boundaries in the world of righteousness.  Something about humor disarms our natural checks on what is appropriate.  The same subject matter, without the added element of laughter, would bring shock and dismay.  Dirty, without the joke, is simply dirty.  Somehow, when it is a dirty joke, the horrifically bad content gets a pass.  We laugh at immorality and impurity and greed. The reduction of these sinful passions to a one liner contributes to the coarse and debauched culture.

One aspect of the scripture that gives it such credibility is scripture’s ability to diagnosis the human condition.  God knows us.  He created us.  He also understands our greatest weaknesses.  Deception began humanity’s path away from God.  Pleasure, power, and even humor, have advanced the journey.  Though God designed us to enjoy life, sin perverts even the best of creation to our great harm. In keeping with the theme of this section, these sinful habits do not fit.  We must lay them aside, like a misfitting garment. The antidote for all of this—give thanks.  Lay aside immortality, impurity, and greed. Lay aside the inappropriate jokes. Instead of inappropriate passions and inappropriate language, put on the giving of thanks.  If we are thankful for what we have, we are less likely to allow immorality and greed to take over our lives.  If we are giving thanks, we use our mouths for something positive and God-exalting, rather than inappropriate humor.  

Suggested Prayer:  I lay my life before You.  Take my life and let it be consecrated, Lord to You.  May the meditation of my heart and the words of my mouth be acceptable to You, my Lord. Amen.

Ephesians