What does it mean to walk circumspectly (Ephesians 5:15)?

Answer

As part of a challenging teaching on holy living, the apostle Paul writes, “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is” (Ephesians 5:15-17; NKJV). To be circumspect is to be cautious; the term originates from a Latin word that means “look around.” “Walk circumspectly” is Paul’s way of urging Christians to carefully observe how they live and behave.

Paul acknowledges that we are living in challenging, evil times. Our fallen world is rife with dangers, deceptions, and temptations. Without being careful and attentive to our surroundings and inner selves, we can easily be caught off guard and fall into various perilous traps. Biblical wisdom instructs us to “make the most of every opportunity” «Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, redeeming the time. », (Colossians 4:5, NLT) and to conduct ourselves as true believers in the midst of challenging times (2 Timothy 3:1-5).

In the original Greek, the phrase translated as “walk circumspectly” means “to watch or look carefully at how you live, to be vigilant and mindful of your behavior, to be on the lookout.” The apostle Peter gives a similar caution: “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour” «Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: », (1 Peter 5:8, NLT). With intentional, vigilant determination, we must

To live rooted in God’s wisdom and an understanding of God’s will.

Paul uses the Hebrew concept “to walk” as a metaphor for behavior. The “Christian walk” refers to how we behave as believers. The will of the Lord is that we always live mindfully and judiciously so that our lifestyles align with biblical teaching. To the Romans, Paul taught, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect” «And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. », (Romans 12:2, NLT).

If we are to walk circumspectly, we must discern the will of the Lord. How do we gain the wisdom to know God’s will? We start by asking for it: “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you” «If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. », (James 1:5).

We also gain wisdom for godly living through reading God’s Word: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). As we meditate on Scripture «I will meditate in thy precepts, And have respect unto thy ways. », (Psalm 119:15) and diligently study God’s Word «Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15), it becomes a guiding, illuminating force to direct our footsteps “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, And a light unto my path.” (Psalm 119:105).

God’s Word is living and active “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12). We must pay close attention to what the Lord has revealed in His Word because it is “a lamp shining in a dark place” “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts.” (2 Peter 1:19), able to show us God’s will and teach us how to walk circumspectly in these evil days.

Unbelievers walk according to “the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. But that is not the way you learned Christ!” (Ephesians 4:17-20;ESV). Christians are to “be filled with the Spirit” “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;” (Ephesians 5:18).

Believers are enabled to live wisely and walk circumspectly.Correctly by the empowering of the Holy Spirit «And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. », (Ezekiel 36:27). Paul told the Galatians to “walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh” « This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. », (Galatians 5:16). The Holy Spirit lives in us, teaching us and leading us into all truth (John 14:17,26;16:13).

God has a good plan for our lives «And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. », (Romans 8:28). We are created to do good works and to walk in them: “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” «For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. », (Ephesians 2:10, ESV). God lovingly reveals His plan to us so that we are “filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God” (Colossians 1:9-10;ESV).

Believers can walk circumspectly—carefully watching how we live—because “by his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of

By getting to know Him, the one who summoned us to Himself through His wonderful glory and excellence” «as His divine power has granted us all things that relate to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us to glory and goodness: », (2 Peter 1:3, NLT). We do not need to rely on our own strength. God’s Word gives us the roadmap to follow, and His Holy Spirit empowers us to fulfill the Master Builder’s design.