“Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.” Colossians 4:5-6
When the Apostle Paul wrote the epistle of 2 Corinthians to the saints in Corinth, he corrected and taught them many things, including providing instruction about the purpose of the weapons of our spiritual warfare (the preaching of the Gospel and discipline of the church) being mighty in God “for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.” (2 Corinthians 10:4-6) As bringing every thought captive to the obedience of Christ comes by the grace and power of God in our battles, so too is your walk and talk to be guided and fueled by the same.
Among other duties on Paul’s list of final exhortations to the church in Colossae, our walk and words are of particular importance, especially what we say and do to those on the “outside” of the church. On the one hand, as wise walkers, we are called to be mindful and aware of the tempting influence of the world on us. We must take care to not put ourselves in harms way, nor be lured by the ways of the world that they live by and promote. As we have contact and interact with unbelievers, we must be watchful and sober, lest we become defiled by their pollution, and little by little fall into ungodliness. For we know evil company corrupts good habits. (1 Corinthians 15:33) On the other hand, we are also called to not seek to harm them, or do evil to them. We need to walk awake in righteousness, and not sin against them. (1 Corinthians 15:34)
As we do so, what does Paul say we’re doing? “Redeeming the time”. What does he mean by this? The Greek word for “redeeming” here means to “buy back, to make the most of”. As Paul taught the saints in Ephesus, we need to make the most of the time because the days are evil. (Ephesians 5:16) We walk being mindful of the dangers. We walk in the world, and with the worldly, seizing the opportunities God brings to us to do good for ourselves and others. We are to walk in a manner becoming of being a Christian, with evangelistic witness in mind.
In addition to our wise walk, we are called to have grace-filled talk. We are called to guard our tongues from uttering wicked or worthless words. Rather, we are to open our mouths speaking things that build up and are attractive to our hearers because they’re profitable to them. (Ephesians 4:29) Paul also teaches us that our grace-filled speech should contain words that are “seasoned with salt”. As grace is the salt that seasons our words and keeps them from becoming corrupt, our words aren’t to be tasteless, but have the savor of fresh spiritual wisdom in edification.
Notice the important purpose Paul’s presses as to why these things need to be true in your life: “that you may know how you ought to answer each one.” (v. 6) See that divine grace isn’t solely in the seasoned words, but also in our minds as we know and discern which words to say, as well as how and when to say them. Further, wisdom declares that one answer doesn’t fit all. (Proverbs 26:4-5) We need a lot of wisdom and grace to give good and godly answers to each person. This is true in particular as we answer questions and objections of those who are against Christ and Christianity. It’s true when we’re showing the ways in which their presuppositions fall flat, as we then give a defense of and the reasons for our faith and the hope that is within us.
Examine yourself today in the light of God’s Word. Can your walk rightly be said to be full of godly wisdom towards those outside the church? Or do you confess Christ, and yet truth be told have a too close and corrupted walk with the world? Are you wasting the time in your walk, or redeeming it? Are the words that come out of your mouth too often tasteless, instead of being well seasoned by grace? Is godly discernment evident in well tailored answers to those on the outside, or do you find conversations out of ignorance to be a regular challenge? Considering the struggles a fair examination reveals, I want to encourage you that Paul was well familiar with the struggle, and thus the need for his exhortation, so that by God’s grace and work, you may grow in sanctification, especially in how you interact with unbelievers.
Meditate on the comforting words of the Apostle Peter and be refreshed in your walk and attentive to your talk- “But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.” But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.” 1 Peter 3:14-16