The "How-To" Guide IV

¹⁵ Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶ making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. ¹⁷ Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. ¹⁸ Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, ¹⁹ speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord,²⁰ always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. - Ephesians 5:15-20

Here in this verse is the first direct "do not" that we can physically apply.  The first three verses are much less direct saying do not live unwise, do not waste your living opportunities, and do not be foolish.  While I agree with them and they sound great, they are subject to some interpretation and it is hard to provide direct application.  But now I have something I can do.  ...  Or not do as it written. 

"Do not get drunk".  A legalistic religious person would say just do not get drunk on wine.  Wine.  Everything else is fine.  And that would miss the point.  Wine is not the key word.  The key word is drunk.  If being drunk on anything "leads to debauchery" then the point is do not be over indulged in it, whatever it is.  And there are a lot of whatevers that aren't just wine.  Debauchery is defined as "excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures".  I often wonder if smart phones qualify here.  I certainly believe our youth and some adults are excessively indulged in them.  Also, we recently had an issue with a youth over marijuana.  "But it's legal in other states.  But it's not a bad drug."  But, but, but .. if you indulge in it does it lead you to God or away from God?  All other questions or comments ARE IRRELEVANT.  

The verse follows by saying "instead, be filled with the Spirit".  Don't be indulged in anything excessively that is not the Spirit of God.  If you need more of something to be complete, get more of God.  He will complete you perfectly.  Trust Him to fill in your holes and remake what you do have in the right manner.  Everything else in this world is designed by the opposer to take all you have, crush your abilities, and leave you hopeless.  

Maybe you're sitting there just about to explode.  You have to go somewhere, do something, live life wide open!  Go find God, do what He is leading you towards, and you'll live life with the provider and creator of life in a way that few get to understand and enjoy.  And it will complete you in a way that you didn't know anything ever could.