Ephesians 5:15-20: Increasing Returns of Joy

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

The first part of these verses sounds very serious. "Make the most of every opportunity" and "don't be foolish" and "understand what the Lord's will is" and "Don't get drunk" It reminds me of the stern side of my upbringing: focus on what God wants and don't get distracted because "the days are evil." As if we're in a state of war.

The second part of these verses sounds very joyful. "Be filled with the Spirit" and "Sing and make music from your heart..." and "Always giving thanks to God the Father" It reminds me of the Sunday school part of my upbringing: celebrate how good God has been to you "for everything". As if we're in a state of blessing.

How to reconcile these different moods? They all hinge, strangely, on the central verse, "Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead..." Paul is telling us that life can be tough and discouraging but. When we leave childhood and get a glimpse of how depressing and wearying the world is, either personally or from what we can see around us, we still want that joy. 

One way to recover that joy is to drink and lose the cares of the world. It works and it remains wildly popular. But it is subject to the law of diminishing returns. That is, as it is used to recover that joy, it slowly loses its effectiveness and more is required. But "more" with wine has side effects--bad ones.

So Paul recommends instead the Spirit. Like wine, it leads to singing and joy, but it doesn't lose its effectiveness. It leads to the joy that is sourced in the Spirit. Therefore I'll take another helping of the Spirit please.