“Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.”
Question: What does it mean by the words “watch”, and “sober”.

This verse is set in the context from verses 2 to 10, concerning the day of the Lord coming as a thief in the night – the day of judgement and reckoning, when God’s rule will be made complete, and Satan and his followers destroyed. The full reading is:

2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.

The night refers to both:

(a) the lack of sight, insight, and foresight of Satan’s followers, and
(b) darkness represents the nature of whom they follow and his works.

These are illustrated by:

(a) The habits of people at night, of sleeping and getting drunk, which are symbolic of their ignorance, unpreparedness, and irresponsibility; and
(b) The example of their concept of peace, which is about their personal comfort, in contrast to the massive destruction that the day of the Lord will bring.

The Lord’s faithful people are children of the light as they have been given foresight and understanding of what is coming, they are aware and can be prepared. The light also represents the nature of whom they follow.

We look in faith to the coming of that day, and we trust in Jesus who has won our salvation. We can be ready even in the midst of calamity, for by the strength of the Holy Spirit our hope rests on all He will do.
So, this is not about missing sleep, or abstaining from alcohol and whatever benefits that may bring, it’s about being and remaining in the right relationship with God through faith in Jesus, and how He enables us to face the challenges of each day now, and the challenge of the worldly turmoil that will occur on Christ’s return in judgement.

The need to “watch” is about being strong in faith, of not lapsing into the widespread but blatantly false social myths of our day. It’s about staying in God’s truth regardless of what we fear may be the social and economic consequences. In my experience, that gains respect from people whose understanding I admire, and rejection by people whose regard I do not value.

Praise God for how He guides us by His Holy Spirit through the chaos of our times.