{"id":14888,"date":"2016-08-10T08:00:26","date_gmt":"2016-08-10T12:00:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mintools.com\/blog\/?p=14888"},"modified":"2025-06-04T09:46:26","modified_gmt":"2025-06-04T13:46:26","slug":"discernment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mintools.com\/blog\/discernment.htm","title":{"rendered":"Making the Most of Every Opportunity Requires Discernment"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure id=\"attachment_13425\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-13425\" style=\"width: 200px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/pin\/477311260484834146\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-13425 size-full\" src=\"\/\/mintools.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/time-use-tcl.jpg\" alt=\"Make the Most of Every Opportunity\" width=\"200\" height=\"199\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mintools.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/time-use-tcl.jpg 200w, https:\/\/mintools.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/time-use-tcl-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-13425\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">(Click to enlarge image in Pinterest &amp; repin.)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>One of the key <a href=\"https:\/\/mintools.com\/blog\/bible-time-use.htm\">Bible verses guiding the use of our time<\/a> could be <span class=\"class2\">Ephesians 5:15-16.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p>Be very careful, then, how you live &#8212; not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>These verses not only instruct us to make the best use of our time but also cue us in on what is required to do that:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>discernment <em>(&#8220;be very careful, then&#8221;)<\/em><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/mintools.com\/blog\/wisdom-wise-not-unwise.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">wisdom<\/a> <em>(&#8220;not as unwise but as wise&#8221;)<\/em><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/mintools.com\/blog\/perspective.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">perspective<\/a> <em>(&#8220;because the days are evil&#8221;)<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>This post will look at the first requirement, with subsequent posts presenting the other requirements for making the most of every opportunity.<\/p>\n<h2>To Make the Most of Every Opportunity Requires Discernment<\/h2>\n<p>&#8220;Be very careful&#8221; comes from two Greek words: blepo (to see) and akribos (accurately, exactly) If we are going to make the most of every opportunity we must observe what is going on around us and properly interpret it. Use discernment! The King James Version words it, &#8220;See then that ye walk circumspectly.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><strong>How are we going to be discerning?<\/strong> &#8212; by looking at life through the grid of God&#8217;s Word.<\/p>\n<p>In speaking of the Word, <span class=\"class2\">Hebrews 5:14<\/span> clearly states that it is those &#8220;who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.&#8221; The more time we spend with God in His Word, seeking to learn how it applies to life, the more discerning we will be.<\/p>\n<p>We can&#8217;t just coast through life and not think about what we are doing if we want to do what is best. We must take what we know from God&#8217;s Word and start by asking ourselves questions like:<\/p>\n<p>Is what I want to do God-honoring?<\/p>\n<p class=\"class2\" style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><em>So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. (1 Cor. 10:31)<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Does it line up with God&#8217;s character and ways?<\/p>\n<p class=\"class2\" style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><em>Be perfect (complete), therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matt. 5:48)<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"class2\" style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><em>But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: &#8220;Be holy, because I am holy.&#8221; (1 Pet. 1:15-16)<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"class2\" style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><em>Follow God\u2019s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love &#8230; (Eph. 5:1-2)<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Would Jesus do it if He was here?<\/p>\n<p class=\"class2\" style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><em>And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Col. 3:17)<\/em><\/p>\n<p>When we take the time to stop and ask ourselves these questions about how we plan to use our time, and bring what we do into alignment with a positive response to these questions, we are exercising the discernment needed to make the most of every opportunity.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>One of the key Bible verses guiding the use of our time could be Ephesians 5:15-16.  These verses not only instruct us to make the best use of our time but also cue us in on what is required to do that:  .  .  . <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/mintools.com\/blog\/discernment.htm\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Making the Most of Every Opportunity Requires Discernment<\/span><span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[71],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14888","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-christ-like-priorities-purposes"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t<!-- All in One SEO 4.9.10 - aioseo.com -->\n\t<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Ephesians 5:15-16 not only instructs us to make the best use of time but also cues us in on what&#039;s required to do that, beginning with the need for discernment.\" 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