Colossians 4:5-6

Walk in wisdom towards outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

I love to cook. I’m a bit of a stickler when it comes to following the recipe because I’m worried that any false moves will compromise the final quality of the dish. In most cases, however, I add a little more of certain ingredients to make sure it has a robust flavor…but that can sometimes go wrong. Really wrong. Have you been there? Too little flavor and it’s bland…but too much flavor? Yikes!  The same thing can happen with respect to our interactions with people outside the faith.

There are three main points we need to understand and apply from today’s passage: Walk in wisdom towards outsiders…make the best use of that time…and control what you choose to say. When you have a firm grasp on all three, you will be ready to engage anyone outside the faith as an effective and winsome Ambassador of Christ. Mess it up…and you might fit nicely into the stereotype that many (if not most) outsiders have of committed Christians.

The first point focuses on our behavior while the other two deal with our speech. British born American poet Edgar Guest remarked that, “I’d rather see a sermon, than hear one, any day.” It’s a valid point. Far too many of us live a visible lifestyle that is inconsistent with our faith. Are you rude? Demanding? Easily offended? Condescending towards people that live differently than you do? Or are you the kind of person that people like to be around? You are kind, patient, generous, encouraging, not easily offended, polite, thankful, and even fun! This is the kind of “wise walk” Paul is talking about and it really puts a premium on the value of your public witness—it’s a great use of your time.

“A Christian’s conduct can have a powerful evangelizing influence on the unsaved; for, if these people see a type of life that is superior to their own, the chances are good that they will want to inquire after its secret.”  – Dr. Rodney Harrison

Of course, living it out is not enough when it comes to evangelism. I hate the quote often attributed to St. Francis of Assisi: “Share the gospel at all times, and when necessary, use words.” Faith comes by HEARING (Rom 10:17) so eventually, we need to SPEAK. The question is: How do we speak? Our words need to be gracious AND seasoned with salt. That is why I used the word winsome earlier. It means attractive or appealing in appearance or character. It is speech that is charming in an open and delightful way. Sounds nice, doesn’t it? Do you sound winsome when you speak to outsiders? “I tell them the truth, Steve!” Good for you…but you jumped ahead and missed the point that Paul led off with.

If you are all truth and no grace you are just a bully. Remember that. Nowhere in scripture are we commanded to be rude or condescending towards outsiders. Truth? Yes. Obnoxious? Never. Salt was used as a figure of speech in the ancient world to describe “sparkling conversation” or speech dotted with witty or clever remarks. Here in Colossians, salt indicates speech which gives a flavor to the discourse and recommends it to the pallet as well as speech which preserves from corruption and renders wholesome. Tell the truth, yes, but share it in a way that is enticing rather than degenerative. Salt is meant to preserve…not spoil.

Get these three things right and you will know how to answer each person!