Ephesians 5 - GNTD & CEVUS06

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God

School can be tough, whether you’re dealing with classes, friends, or figuring yourself out. The Bible offers timeless wisdom that can guide you through these experiences. Here are seven biblical wisdom nuggets, accompanied by scripture, to help you sail smoothly through school.

1. Seek God’s Wisdom First

Proverbs 2:6 (NIV): “For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.”

Before diving into your studies, seek God’s wisdom. Acknowledge that true knowledge comes from Him. When you prioritize God’s wisdom, you gain insights that go beyond textbooks, helping you make better decisions in both academic and personal matters.

2. Be Diligent and Hardworking

Proverbs 13:4 (NIV): “A sluggard’s appetite is never filled, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.”

Success in school requires effort and perseverance. Laziness will lead to unfulfilled goals, but diligence brings rewards. Whether it’s studying for exams or working on projects, approach each task with a mindset of diligence, knowing that hard work pays off.

3. Practice Integrity in All Things

Proverbs 10:9 (NIV): “Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.”

Integrity means being honest and having strong moral principles, even when no one is watching. Cheating on an exam or copying homework may seem like a shortcut, but it ultimately leads to trouble. Uphold integrity in your academic pursuits, and you’ll walk with confidence.

4. Surround Yourself with Wise Friends

Proverbs 13:20 (NIV): “Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.”

The company you keep influences your behavior and choices. Surround yourself with friends who uplift you, encourage your growth, and share your values. Wise friends will challenge you to be better and help you stay on the right path.

5. Trust in God’s Plan

Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV): “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

School can be overwhelming with its uncertainties and pressures. Trust that God has a plan for your life, even when things don’t go as expected. Whether you face disappointments or setbacks, believe that God is guiding you toward a hopeful future.

6. Manage Your Time Wisely

Ephesians 5:15-16 (NIV): “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.”

Time management is crucial for balancing studies, extracurricular activities, and personal time. Use your time wisely, avoiding procrastination. Prioritize tasks and make the most of every opportunity to learn and grow.

7. Pray About Everything

Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV): “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Prayer is a powerful tool in navigating school life. Whether you’re stressed about an upcoming test or unsure about your future, bring your concerns to God in prayer. Prayer brings peace and clarity, helping you stay focused and calm in all situations.

Conclusion

Applying these biblical wisdom nuggets to your school life can significantly enhance your experience. By seeking God’s wisdom, practicing diligence, maintaining integrity, surrounding yourself with wise friends, trusting in God’s plan, managing your time wisely, and praying about everything, you can navigate the challenges of school with confidence and grace. Remember, God is with you every step of the way, ready to guide and support you.

Navigating the complexities of life can be challenging, especially for young people who are still finding their way. The Bible offers timeless wisdom and guidance that can help shape a fulfilling and purposeful life. Here are some key Biblical tips for young people:

1. Seek Wisdom and Understanding

Proverbs 4:7 – “The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.”

The pursuit of wisdom is highly valued in the Bible. Wisdom helps in making informed decisions, understanding the world better, and living a life that is pleasing to God. Young people are encouraged to seek wisdom and understanding, not only through formal education but also through life experiences and learning from others.

2. Honor Your Parents

Ephesians 6:1-3 – “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ‘Honor your father and mother’—which is the first commandment with a promise—’so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.'”

Respecting and honoring parents is a fundamental principle in the Bible. It fosters healthy family relationships and sets a foundation for a respectful attitude towards authority and elders.

3. Guard Your Heart

Proverbs 4:23 – “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”

The heart, in Biblical terms, is the center of one’s being, encompassing emotions, desires, and thoughts. Guarding your heart means being mindful of what influences you—your thoughts, feelings, and actions. It involves being cautious about the company you keep, the content you consume, and the activities you engage in.

4. Flee from Temptation

1 Corinthians 10:13 – “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”

Temptations are a part of life, but the Bible reassures that there is always a way to overcome them. Young people are encouraged to recognize their weaknesses, seek God’s strength, and make conscious efforts to avoid situations that might lead to sin.

5. Develop a Prayerful Life

Philippians 4:6 – “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

Prayer is a powerful tool for maintaining a close relationship with God. It helps in finding peace, gaining strength, and seeking guidance. A prayerful life enables young people to stay connected to their faith and find solace in difficult times.

6. Cultivate Good Friendships

Proverbs 13:20 – “Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.”

The company you keep significantly influences your character and decisions. The Bible encourages surrounding yourself with wise and good-hearted individuals who uplift and encourage you to grow in faith and virtue.

7. Serve Others

Galatians 5:13 – “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.”

Service to others is a core principle in Christianity. It teaches humility, compassion, and selflessness. Young people are encouraged to look beyond their own needs and contribute positively to the lives of others.

Conclusion

The Bible offers invaluable guidance for young people striving to live meaningful and virtuous lives. By seeking wisdom, honoring parents, guarding their hearts, fleeing from temptation, developing a prayerful life, cultivating good friendships, serving others, living with integrity, trusting in God’s plan, and staying humble, young people can navigate the complexities of life with faith and purpose.

Living in the Light

1 Since you are God's dear children, you must try to be like him. 2 Your life must be controlled by love, just as Christ loved us and gave his life for us as a sweet-smelling offering and sacrifice that pleases God.

3 Since you are God's people, it is not right that any matters of sexual immorality or indecency or greed should even be mentioned among you. 4 Nor is it fitting for you to use language which is obscene, profane, or vulgar. Rather you should give thanks to God. 5 You may be sure that no one who is immoral, indecent, or greedy (for greed is a form of idolatry) will ever receive a share in the Kingdom of Christ and of God.

6 Do not let anyone deceive you with foolish words; it is because of these very things that God's anger will come upon those who do not obey him. 7 So have nothing at all to do with such people. 8 You yourselves used to be in the darkness, but since you have become the Lord's people, you are in the light. So you must live like people who belong to the light, 9 for it is the light that brings a rich harvest of every kind of goodness, righteousness, and truth. 10 Try to learn what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the worthless things that people do, things that belong to the darkness. Instead, bring them out to the light. ( 12 It is really too shameful even to talk about the things they do in secret.) 13 And when all things are brought out to the light, then their true nature is clearly revealed; 14 for anything that is clearly revealed becomes light. That is why it is said,

“Wake up, sleeper,

and rise from death,

and Christ will shine on you.”

15 So be careful how you live. Don't live like ignorant people, but like wise people. 16 Make good use of every opportunity you have, because these are evil days. 17 Don't be fools, then, but try to find out what the Lord wants you to do.

18 Do not get drunk with wine, which will only ruin you; instead, be filled with the Spirit. 19 Speak to one another with the words of psalms, hymns, and sacred songs; sing hymns and psalms to the Lord with praise in your hearts. 20 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, always give thanks for everything to God the Father.

Wives and Husbands

21 Submit yourselves to one another because of your reverence for Christ.

22 Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands as to the Lord. 23 For a husband has authority over his wife just as Christ has authority over the church; and Christ is himself the Savior of the church, his body. 24 And so wives must submit themselves completely to their husbands just as the church submits itself to Christ.

7 Bible Verses about Marriage

There are many kinds of temptations in the world. To be married is to give our love and loyalty to our husband or wife.

25 Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave his life for it. 26 He did this to dedicate the church to God by his word, after making it clean by washing it in water, 27 in order to present the church to himself in all its beauty—pure and faultless, without spot or wrinkle or any other imperfection. 28 Men ought to love their wives just as they love their own bodies. A man who loves his wife loves himself. ( 29 None of us ever hate our own bodies. Instead, we feed them, and take care of them, just as Christ does the church; 30 for we are members of his body.) 31 As the scripture says, “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and unite with his wife, and the two will become one.” 32 There is a deep secret truth revealed in this scripture, which I understand as applying to Christ and the church. 33 But it also applies to you: every husband must love his wife as himself, and every wife must respect her husband.

1 Do as God does. After all, you are his dear children. 2 Let love be your guide. Christ loved us and offered his life for us as a sacrifice that pleases God.

3 You are God's people, so don't let it be said that any of you are immoral or indecent or greedy. 4 Don't use dirty or foolish or filthy words. Instead, say how thankful you are. 5 Being greedy, indecent, or immoral is just another way of worshiping idols. You can be sure people who behave in this way will never be part of the kingdom that belongs to Christ and to God.

Living as People of Light

6 Don't let anyone trick you with foolish talk. God punishes everyone who disobeys him and says foolish things. 7 So don't have anything to do with anyone like that.

8 You used to be like people living in the dark, but now you are people of the light because you belong to the Lord. So act like people of the light 9 and make your light shine. Be good and honest and truthful, 10 as you try to please the Lord. 11 Don't take part in doing those worthless things that are done in the dark. Instead, show how wrong they are. 12 It is disgusting even to talk about what is done in the dark. 13 But the light will show what these things are really like. 14 Light shows up everything, just as the Scriptures say,

“Wake up from your sleep

and rise from death.

Then Christ will shine on you.”

15 Act like people with good sense and not like fools. 16 These are evil times, so make every minute count. 17 Don't be stupid. Instead, find out what the Lord wants you to do. 18 Don't destroy yourself by getting drunk, but let the Spirit fill your life. 19 When you meet together, sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, as you praise the Lord with all your heart. 20 Always use the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to thank God the Father for everything.

Wives and Husbands

21 Honor Christ and put others first. 22 A wife should put her husband first, as she does the Lord. 23 A husband is the head of his wife, as Christ is the head and the Savior of the church, which is his own body. 24 Wives should always put their husbands first, as the church puts Christ first.

25 A husband should love his wife as much as Christ loved the church and gave his life for it. 26 He made the church holy by the power of his word, and he made it pure by washing it with water. 27 Christ did this, so he would have a glorious and holy church, without faults or spots or wrinkles or any other flaws.

28 In the same way, a husband should love his wife as much as he loves himself. A husband who loves his wife shows he loves himself. 29 None of us hate our own bodies. We provide for them and take good care of them, just as Christ does for the church, 30 because we are each part of his body. 31 As the Scriptures say, “A man leaves his father and mother to get married, and he becomes like one person with his wife.” 32 This is a great mystery, but I understand it to mean Christ and his church. 33 So each husband should love his wife as much as he loves himself, and each wife should respect her husband.