Act Wisely
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Act wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the time. Your speech should always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you should answer each person.
This passage is parallel to Ephesians 5 that we looked at last week
Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk—not as unwise people but as wise— making the most of the time, because the days are evil.
The word “Act” and the word “walk” are the same word. It has to do with living life out, how you conduct yourself.
Acting wisely toward unbelievers is great use of our time.
Acting wisely toward unbelievers is great use of our time.
Act wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the time. Your speech should always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you should answer each person.
We only have much time. Last week we saw that and here it is again. But Paul is even more pointed here. He says that we should act wisely in our use of time as we are interacting with “outsiders.”
In his book “Mastering Life,” Rob Morgan says there are three big wasters of time: 1. Misdirection: Doing the wrong thing. 2. Laziness: Being overcome by lethargy and 3. Entertainment: Being addicted to diversions of all sorts and screens of all sizes.
Teach us to number our days carefully
so that we may develop wisdom in our hearts.
If we are going to live “others focused” lives, then how we appropriate and integrate our time usage is going to be incredibly important.
This week you will have the same number of hours in your week that everyone else does. You will encounter people (outsiders/unbelievers) that the Scripture calls you to act wisely toward.
Acting wisely toward unbelievers involves proper use of our tongue.
Acting wisely toward unbelievers involves proper use of our tongue.
Preach the Gospel at all times; if necessary, use words.
Preach the Gospel at all times; if necessary, use words.
Preach the Gospel at all times; since it is necessary, use words.
Preach the Gospel at all times; since it is necessary, use words.
Act wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the time. Your speech should always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you should answer each person.
Gracious speech- uplifting, positive, filled with grace.
It is possible to point out sin, error, wrong direction, the need for repentance and faith toward God and to do so with grace filled speech.
seasoned with salt. Wow. The way we wisely use our speech can enhance the “flavor” of the Gospel.
Gossip, continual criticism, and complaining words etc. will have a counterproductive effect on the unbeliever who is rightly watching and listening to you.
that by Him you were enriched in everything—in all speech and all knowledge.
What you know and what you say can be a living witness to the power of God in your life.
So that you may answer.... People are looking for answers. The old adage is true, people don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.
And if we can take this full circle, it takes time for people to learn if we really care or not. Therefore we must commit to “Acting Wisely”.
Application: What is one way you can use some of your time this week to touch the life of an outsider?
Who is one person you can speak to this week, enhancing the “flavor” of their lives.
Is there someone you may need to go to and say, “look the way I spoke to you or around you or about you, was not good and I am sorry. I belong to Jesus and I did not act wisely to you.”?