Walk Honestly, part 2

Romans 13:13-14 KJV

13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. 14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

Luke 21:34

And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.

chambering - a bed, marriage bed, adultery
wantonness - unbridled lust, promiscuous, offensive sexual behavior
envying - zeal in pursuing something
surfeiting - the "buzz"

I wrote on Romans 13:13-14 before, but I am digging deeper this time.

Envying is often equated to jealousy, however, it can also mean a zeal at pursuing or defending something. This could be having a passion for something so much that it is your focus and you put all other things aside to pursue/defend this thing.

It also speask about not fulfilling the lusts of the flesh. Most people automatically think of sexual lusts (which in many cases it is), however, it is really just a desire or longing for something forbidden. God calls us to live for eternity. We are not to be of this world, yet I see many Christians more worried about/desiring for things of this world over eternity. This would be "lusts of the flesh."

We can then look at Luke 21:34. Here ist speaks of the same thing. What I see is the comparison of the "cares of this world" to "surfeiting and drunkenness."

Most alcoholics drinkto drown their sorrows (the cares of this life), but what I want to focus on is that when someone is drunk (or even buzzed), their senses are numbed; they don't think clearly, and they do and say things they normally wouldn't. Doesn't the same thing happen when someone is focused on the cares of this world? They will say mean and hurtful things to their friends and family. They will look down in judgement towards anyone not doing what they think they should be doing. They start accusing others of what they perceive instead of seeking understanding.

We are to put on Christ instead of making provision for the flesh. We are to fulfill Christ's calling, not the lusts of the flesh.

The comparison to thisis Ephesians 5:18,

And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

We are to act this way while being filled ith the Spirit. This means we are to pour out love, comapssion, and understanding instead of jusgement, accusations, and contempt. We are to be so filled with the Spirit that He flows out of our mouths.