5:6
“Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient” (NIV). There are people, even in the church, who will seek to deceive. Perhaps the most obvious example today are those who try and persuade us that God is OK with homosexuality. Their arguments are empty and deceptive. But there are other areas as well. In the area of sexual morality there are those who say that sex before marriage isn’t a big issue, or is even OK. This is a deeply unbiblical and harmful idea. At times there are those who will try to argue that greed is good. The most obvious example of this are proponents of the so-called prosperity gospel. This is a clear example of empty words. Jesus said what good is it if a man gains the whole world but loses his soul (Mark 8:36), yet this is precisely what prosperity teachers are advocating! Finally, it is because of these things that God’s wrath comes. We don’t like that idea, yet it is a recurrent theme throughout the Bible. Sin is utterly destructive, and so God’s judgement will come upon such things.
5:7
"Therefore do not become partners with them". There is a desire in all of us to be liked, to be in tune with the general flow of things, but often the general flow of the world is utterly destructive, as with the aspects mentioned in the previous verses by Paul. We must not be "sons of disobedience", we must not partner with them. Why would we want o be partners in something that brings God's wrath upon people?
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