Seasoned Speech
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Colossians 4:5-6
Colossians 4:5-6
5 Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity.
6 Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.
Though not all of us are called to be Evangelists (with a capital E) as part of the five-fold ministry, we all are to do the work of the evangelist. (2 Timothy 4:5 “5 But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”)
We are part of a much larger group of Christian churches that usually go under the banner “Evangelical Christians.” I’m glad to be known as an Evangelical. What does Evangelical mean? It means one who brings good news. And we have the best news! The news about Jesus and salvation is the best news that we can ever share with another human being.
I believe that the most effect evangelism long-term is what has been called “Lifestyle evangelism” or sometimes “Relational evangelism.” This is a type of evangelism that I believe that all of us should do and that all of us are called to. I believe that this is what Paul is talking about in these two verses. It is a type of evangelism that is based not on giving out tracks to people right and left or memorizing the four spiritual laws and reciting them to people that we meet, but rather built on building relationships with people around us so that we can share the gospel with them...
With God’s help, we’re going to break down these two verses phrase by phrase to see what Paul is getting at here. I believe that what Paul is teaching in these two verses will help each of us to be more effective in sharing the good news with those around us.
“Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders...”
Outsiders obviously are those who are outside the faith. They may be unbelievers in that they don’t believe in the inspired word of God. They may be people of other religions or they may be what is commonly called today the “nones” (Those who check “none” in the box under “religious affiliation.”) They may be people who style themselves believers, but they haven’t darkened the doors of a church in years or maybe even decades. They come in many shapes and sizes and each one is different because people are different. Each one is to be approached differently. It takes the grace of God to know how to relate to people in a way that will draw them towards Christ.
Paul says that we are to conduct ourselves with wisdom towards these people. What do you think he means by that?
If you’ve followed us in Colossians, you know that we frequently will refer to Colossians’ companion letter. Remember what that is? Ephesians was written at the same time and has many of the same phrases as Colossians. Putting them side-by-side can sometimes open the door to Paul’s mindset. Let’s look at the companion verse for this one in Ephesians:
15 Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise,
Reading this in context, we find that he is talking about our walk towards outsiders. In the context of Ephesians 5, he is talking about living out our faith before those around us.
In verse 2, Paul tells us to “walk in love.”
In verse 3 he tells us that immorality, any impurity or greed must not be named among us.
In verse 4 he tells us that we are not to be covetous.
In verse 8, he tells us to “walk as children of light.”
In verse 11, he tells us that we are not to participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness but rather to expose them.
All of these things can affect our relationship with outsiders.
This 15th verse in KJV and NKJV is translated “See that you walk circumspectly.” I like this word. This word circumspect means “looking about on all sides”. Another way to say it is “always looking around.” Think about the word “circumference.” It means “in a circle”, right? So to walk with wisdom towards outsiders means that we are always looking around.
I think there are two ways to understand this. One way is that we are to always to be examining our own walk. Is there anything that I am doing or saying in my life that is giving Christ a bad name...that is “poisoning the waters?” I can’t share my faith with others effectively if I’m not living my faith. Am I walking in love? Am I walking as a child of light? Am I dabbling in things that I have no business dabbling in?
I guess you might say that good evangelism should start in our prayer closet. These are things that we need to deal with in our own hearts before the Lord before we ever step out into our everyday lives. If you are not truly right before God, then repent. Get back on the road. If you haven’t been walking in the right path, then get on the right path! If there are things that you have done or said to others that was a bad witness, go back and apologize. Make amends!
We all have times that we have failed in some way or another. Maybe we tried to say something, but it just came out wrong. Or we came off as judgmental or snobbish to outsiders, when that wasn’t our aim as much. Part of the meaning of walking in wisdom means that when we get before the Lord, we are able to identify these things and that we are humble enough to go back and correct them. I believe that the phrase “I’m so sorry” can be one of the greatest evangelism tools there are. People are not used to others owning up to their mistakes! If you’ve poisoned the waters in any way, with God’s help you can fix it!
The next phrase is verse 5 is “making the most of the opportunity.
16 making the most of your time, because the days are evil.
KJV says “redeeming the time.” The Greek word that this is based on actually means to redeem or buy back the time. One definition of this “to make wise and sacred use of every opportunity for doing good, so that zeal and well doing are as it were the purchase money by which we make the time our own.”
We only have so much time, right? I think that is what Paul means when he says “the days are evil.” That literally means to be “full of labors, annoyances, and hardships.” The days are hard, and our opportunities to do good to others are few. We need to make the most of those opportunities.
So these opportunities can be given to us to vocally share the gospel with others. However, before we can do that, we need to love them first. There are so many lonely people out there! So many people who need someone to love them...to pay attention to them! To make the most of the opportunity may mean to just pay attention to the people around us. Care for them. I believe that this is the second meaning of “walking in wisdom” or “walking circumspectly.” We are always looking around for ways to do good to others.
Warren Wiersbe:
“Redeeming the time” means buying up the opportunity. This is a commercial term and pictures the Christian as a faithful steward who knows an opportunity when he sees one. Just as a merchant seizes a bargain when he finds one, so a Christian seizes the opportunity to win a soul to Christ.
Verse 6 says “Let your speech always be with grace...” What do you think that Paul meant by that? You know, there are two definitions of grace, but they are closely aligned. The first has to do with the grace of God...that “unmerited favor” that we so depend on from our Lord.
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
This is the foundation of our faith. It is because that Jesus died on the cross for us that grace from God has been extended to us as lost sinners. He extended His favor to us though we did nothing to deserve it.
The second definition of grace is the grace that we are to have towards others. I would call it “the spirit of grace.”
22 And all were speaking well of Him, and wondering at the gracious words which were falling from His lips; and they were saying, “Is this not Joseph’s son?”
Gracious words fell from his lips. People are not used to “gracious words.” They are used to harsh words...There was a humility and a graciousness in Christ’s words that made people wonder. Are our words this way? Do our words cause the people around to to wonder...where did she get such gracious words?
2 You are fairer than the sons of men;
Grace is poured upon Your lips;
Therefore God has blessed You forever.
This is an ancient prophecy of Christ. Grace was poured upon His lips. Ask God to pour grace upon your lips so that grace can come out of your lips.
Part of this “gracious speech” is being forgiving of others when they are not gracious to you. When they offend you or even harm you. We have to be “quick forgivers.” If we are holding a grudge towards a person we work with, a family member, or anyone else, it will definitely “poison the waters” not only with that person but with everyone around us. Remember what Jesus said?
3 “Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?
4 “Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye?
5 “You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.
If this is true of our brother in the faith, is it not even more true of outsiders? Why are we so quick to criticize others? Why are we shocked that those who don’t have the light act in a way that shows that they don’t have the light?
I’ve heard people complain because there are so few Christians in their work place. So what? You be the light! That just means that there are more opportunities for you to shine the light!
Paul says that our speech is always to be with grace, as though seasoned with salt. Now what in the world did he mean by that? Are we to sprinkle salt on our lips before we talk?
13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.
Salt had two functions in that day. One we are familiar with now...the other one less so. Salt improves the flavor of things, right? If I try to eat a vegetable with no salt in it, it just is tasteless. Our speech and our conduct, our very presence, should bring out the best in those around us. When you come in the room, a temple of the living God is coming in that room! I believe that in some way, those who are outside can often sense that. Often, their speech will change when you come in, even when you weren’t trying to change their speech! Do you have any examples?
What is the other use of salt? It is to be a preservative. I believe that Bible-believing, Jesus-loving Christians in our society is the only thing that has saved our society. Our just being there is salvation. This is not brag its just fact. Our society is preserved because we affect the people around us.
David Guzik quotes Barclay:
Barclay translates Colossians 4:6 this way: Let your speech always be with gracious charm, seasoned with the salt of wit, so that you will know the right answer to give in every case. He explains: “Here is an interesting injunction. It is all too true that Christianity in the minds of many is connected with a kind of sanctimonious dullness and an outlook in which laughter is almost a heresy… The Christian must commend his message with the charm and the wit which were in Jesus himself.”
I found this to be an interesting interpretation of this “seasoned with salt.” It is supported I think by the last phrase in verse 6, “so that you will know how you should respond to each person.”
We should be enjoyable to be around. It doesn’t mean that we should be flippant or course in our speech. Not at all. But a person who is “witty” is a person who we just like to be around. Maybe they have an unusual way of looking at things, but it’s not offensive.
It takes the grace of God to know how to respond to those around us. Respond to what? Well, there can be many things. Maybe they say things that are meant to provoke us. Don’t take the bait.
(Tell the story about Jean Pfau)
Warren Wiersbe
The Christian’s walk and talk must be in harmony with each other. Nothing will silence the lips like a careless life. When character, conduct, and conversation are all working together, it makes for a powerful witness.
