Stay Salty

August 22

Read: Colossians 4:2-end

Stay Salty

"Walk in wisdom toward 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.” (v.5)

There are no formulas in the Christian life. There is ultimate truth and a relationship with God, but the ways that this relationship works out are so unique and different that they simply do not fit into a “formula”. God has oriented the world to keep us as his children dependent on him. He does not give us the sort of instructions that we can “take them and run with it” without his help. Ecclesiastes says that “When I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done on earth…I saw all the work of God, that man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun. However much man may toil in seeking, he will not find it out.” (Ecc. 8:16,17) We cannot “figure out on our own” what God is up to… what he is doing. We can only look to him and have him tell us!

This truth comes to life here as Paul closes this letter to the church. He gives us this instruction to “Walk in wisdom toward outsiders”. You see, there is such a thing as “outsiders” and “insiders”- there is a distinction between the family of God and those who are outside the family of God. We need WISDOM to navigate how we interact with those who are not children of God. There is the chance that the arguments, discussions, or efforts we are pouring out are actually a WASTE OF TIME. The scriptures are calling us to “make the best use of our time”.

During his ministry, Jesus spoke to the crowds about “salt”. (cf. Mark 9:50, Etc.) His followers were called to be “salt and light”. What we see is that it is God who provides us with our “saltiness”. It is his presence, work, and attributes being worked out in us and through us that constitute being “salty”. Our words ought to be “gracious and seasoned with salt”. We cannot speak to others around us nor make the best use of the time at hand without listening to the Heavenly Father who tells us what to say and do. Notice that it is that infusion of God’s presence and relationship with him that directs us… it is only then “that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” (v.5)

You see, each conversation… each interactions is different. There are things you should say, and things that can go unsaid. It is only this “seasoning with the salt of the Lord” that can guide you in this. This is the difference between effective ministry and conversations that fall flat. Effective ministry is saying and doing what God tells you to say and do… the rest is “man-made”. We would prefer a formula … a sort of say this to everyone. It just does not work that way…even for Paul! Notice how Paul says, “pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.” (v.2) He is modeling this truth. There is intentional prayer and seeking the Lord in an effort to know how to speak and interact with those who do not yet know “the mystery of Christ”. Our words should “make clear the mystery of Christ”.

The disciples asked the same things of Jesus during his time here on earth. His instructions to them: “do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.” (Matt 10:19) Our speech needs to be guided by the Father, it needs to be salty, it needs to be gracious, and we need to speak in light of the time that we have. This is how we was in wisdom towards outsiders.

Today, slow down and start asking God to tell you what to say. Listen for his voice. Take a moment before you speak to “sprinkle some salt” on your words. Be aware of who you are talking to. Pay attention to the time at hand. Are you giving too much time in one area and neglecting time in another? Have you let these “outsider” conversations rob you of conversations with the Lord or those in the family of God? Even Paul needed prayer to be directed int he words and to the places he was being led. Let us do the same for one another today. Love you guys! - JDP