THE WORLD IS WATCHING – Colossians 4:5-6
Posted by Angella Diehl, Webmaster on June 19, 2013 under AM Bible Study |
AM Bible Study Group; June 19, 2013
Colossians 4:5-6
Theme: As ambassadors for Christ, we must watch our ‘walk’ and our ‘words’ before a watching world.
(Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are taken from
The Bible teaches us that we who are Jesus’ followers are ‘ambassadors for Christ’ (2 Corinthians 5:20-21)—’living letters’ that are “known and read by all men” (2 Corinthians 3:2). We are to do all things “without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world . . .” (Philippians 2:14-15). Our Lord told us, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16). The world is watching us. And the world has every right to be watching us; because God has placed us on this earth to be watched
This morning’s text reminds us then that, as ambassadors for Christ, we must carefully watch our ‘walk’ and our ‘words’ before this watching world. Paul had just encouraged the believers in Colossae to pray for the success of the gospel (see 4:3-4). And now he urges that that very same message be validated in the eyes of the world through the lives of those who profess to believe it.
I. HOW WE ARE TO WATCH OUR ‘WALK’ (v. 5).
A. Paul says, “Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.”
1. Our “walk” is a figure of speech for daily life-style conduct. Our daily conduct is very important to God. We are to walk worthy of our calling (Ephesians 4:1). We’re to walk “as children of light” (5:8). We’re to see to it that we “walk circumspectly”—that is, carefully (5:15-16).
2. And the reason God is concerned about our walk is because it’s being observed by people who are “outside”—that is, people who do not yet know Jesus Christ and have not yet believed the gospel. As Paul urged the believers in Thessalonlica, we are to “walk properly toward those who are outside . . .” (1 Thessalonians 4:12); and as he urged Timothy, the church should appoint elders who “have a good testimony among those who are outside . . .” (1 Timothy 3:7). We should ‘walk’ in such a way as to attract those who are “outside” into becoming “insiders”.
B. What sort of things should characterize our walk believer before the eyes of the world?
1. One thing that Paul mentioned was that it should be a “walk in wisdom”. Such a walk isn’t meant to be understood as characterized by intellectualism and scholarly pursuits. It’s meant instead to be a matter of practical holiness—living in such a way as to use the very best means to bring about the highest ends. In James 3:17, we’re told, “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.” This gives us a good description of what it means to “walk in wisdom toward those who are outside”—that is, with moral purity in conduct, peaceableness in relations, gentleness toward others, a reasonableness in conflict and a willingness to yield when prudent to do so, a prevailing mercifulness toward those in need, an abundance of good works, an impartial and equitable spirit, and with the absence of hypocrisy—being the real thing in all of the above matters. Such a life is “wise” in the biblical sense—and is one that makes the world stand up and take notice whenever they see it.
2. Paul also speaks of “redeeming the time” in our behavior. Here, he uses two interesting words. The first one was a market-place word that meant to eagerly “buy-up” or “seize-up” an item. The next word is one that’s translated “time”—but this particular Greek word isn’t referring to “clock-time”. Instead, this word refers to specific “occasions” or “events” or “opportunities”. Paul is saying that our behavior is to be characterized by an alertness to recognize and seize hold of the opportunities in our daily manner of life to bear a positive witness for the life-changing power of Christ. The New American Standard Bible translates it very well; “making the most of the opportunity”. So often, we fail to recognize and seize the opportunities God gives us to bear a witness for His Son In another passage, Paul says we should make the most of such opportunities “because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:16). The more evil the days become, the more opportunities there will be. May God help us to “walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.”
II. HOW WE ARE TO WATCH OUR ‘WORDS’ (v. 6).
A. The world can’t see the attitude of our hearts. All it can see is what is produced by what’s in our hearts. Our Lord taught us that it’s from out of the abundance of his heart that a man speaks (Luke 6:45). And so, Paul next tells us, “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.” We can see in this verse three specific things that are to characterize our speech:
1. Our words are to be continually spoken in grace. “Let your speech always be with grace . . .” The word “grace” simply means “a free gift of favor”—that which is bestowed to someone freely and undeservedly for their good and blessedness. In the context of representing our Lord to unsaved people, this means that we’re to always to pay careful attention that our words build someone up and add something positive to their lives—as opposed to our using words to “cut people down to size” and “put them in their place”. Insults and put-downs and slams are to have no place in our speech as followers of Jesus. We are instead to use our words exclusively for the building up of others—passing on to others something of the grace that God has given to us. Paul wrote to the Ephesian believers and said, “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers” (Ephesians 4:29). Jesus Himself set the example for us. The Bible tells us that He was “full of grace and truth” (John 1:14); and that people “marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth” (Luke 4:22).
2. Our words are to be “seasoned with salt”. There are several possible ways of understanding this:
a. One of the ways salt is used is as a ‘preservative’. It has properties in it that prohibit purification and spoilage; and was probably what Jesus’ meant when He told His followers, “You are the salt of the earth” (Matthew 5:13). He was saying that His followers, living devoted lives in the world, serve as the preserving agent of the world—keeping corruption and sin from completely spoiling the whole earth. Perhaps we’re meant to understand that our words are always to have that ‘preservative’ quality—that we are to speak in a way that reverses the effects of corruption in the world around us.
b. Another characteristic of salt is its healing properties. Salt, when it’s poured onto a wound, burns and causes pain at first; but it has the effect of preventing infection from setting in. And so, perhaps we’re meant to understand that our words are to have a healing effect on those around us. When we speak the truth to someone, it may sting and hurt at first; but if we tell them the truth from God that they need to hear, and then follow those words up with words of encouragement and comfort, then we’re—in a sense—seasoning our speech with salt.
c. A third characteristic of salt is that it adds ‘flavor’ and ‘zest’ and ‘sparkle’ to things. This is the way that ancient Greek writers sometimes spoke of ‘speech seasoned with salt’. They spoke of such speech as witty and attractive to hear. Plutarch, for example, spoke of mundane activities of life being “seasoned with the salt of conversation”. He called such engaging talk “the tastiest condiment of all”. Three centuries before Paul, one ancient writer spoke about the speeches and lectures of the scholars of his day as “unsalted”—meaning that they were boring and insipid. Christians, of all people, should be characterized by the flavor of ‘salt’ in our speech. We should always speak in such a way as to make what we have to say attractive to hear. The Bible tells us that Jesus spoke this way. He used so many metaphors, and analogies, and figures of speech, and thrilling word pictures, that people flocked in huge crowds to hear Him. He taught some of the deepest theology you could ever hear; but He was never dull when He taught it. He was often in strong debate with the scholars and religious intellectuals of His day over heavy issues; but even then, as people overheard these conversations, the Bible tells us that “the common people heard Him gladly” (Mark 12:37). We have the most fascinating truth to share with the people of this world. May God help us never to be dull in the telling of it; but may He teach us to season our words with the attractive salt of good-hearted wit and winsomeness.
3. Finally, we’re to see to it that we carefully study how to give an appropriate response to people in our speech. Paul says to give attention to your speech, “that you may know how you ought to answer each one.” Note the particulars:
a. We’re to “know” how to answer each one. This involves taking the time to stop first and think about what it is we’re about to say. We’re to ask ourselves if the words that are about to come out of our mouths will have the effect that God wants our words to have.
b. We’re to speak only “how you ought to answer”. We’re not to simply say what we feel; but what we “ought”; that is, what we’re duty-bound before God to say at such times.
c. We’re to tailor our speech to the unique needs of the person to whom we’re speaking; that is, we’re to speak “as we ought to answer each one”. We’re not to simply throw our words out in front of people and leave it to them to deal with it. Rather, we’re to make sure that what we say is what each person to whom we speak uniquely needs to hear from us.
B. The Bible tells us, “The heart of the righteous studies how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours forth evil” (Proverbs 15:28). But it also says, “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver” (Proverbs 25:11). Much harm can be caused by careless words. Indeed, “the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell” (James 3:6). But at the same time, much good can be accomplished for the kingdom of Jesus Christ by our words.
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When we consider that the unbelieving people are evaluating our Savior by what they hear in our speech, then we’ll be motived to stop and think and pray for the right thing to say and do toward each particular person on each unique occasion. May our words and our walk communicate the life-transforming power of Jesus to those who see; and may the Lord Jesus get the glory.
