Colossians 4:1-6: a reflection

1Masters, give to your servants that which is just and equal, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven. 2Continue steadfastly in prayer, watching in it with thanksgiving, 3praying together for us also, that God may open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds, 4that I may reveal it as I ought to speak. 5Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. 6Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

As Paul closes his letter to the Colossians, he gives some practical instructions, including one about how we speak, especially to those outside the faith. Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, he says, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer each person. Our words, especially toward those who do not yet believe, are to be gracious and winsome, seasoned with salt, thoughtful and attractive rather than harsh or careless.

Notice the two qualities Paul calls for in our speech: grace and salt. Gracious speech is kind, warm, attractive, marked by the grace we ourselves have received; it draws people rather than repelling them. And speech seasoned with salt is thoughtful, tasteful, with substance, not bland or careless, but engaging and wise. Together, gracious and salted speech is the kind of speech that commends the faith and wins a hearing, especially with those outside it.

That is a needed word about how we speak, particularly to those who do not share our faith. It is easy to be harsh, careless, or off-putting in how we speak of our faith to outsiders, to win an argument but lose the person. But Paul calls for speech that is gracious and seasoned with salt, winsome and thoughtful, that draws rather than repels. Watch how you speak, especially to those outside the faith. Let your words be gracious, kind, and attractive, seasoned with salt, thoughtful and wise, so that your speech commends the faith rather than repelling people from it. Gracious, salted speech opens doors; harsh or careless speech closes them. Speak with grace, that you may know how to answer each person, and that your words may draw others toward Christ.

Lord, Paul urges me to walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time, and to let my speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that I may know how to answer each person. Give me that kind of speech. Gracious speech is kind, warm, attractive, marked by the grace I have received; it draws people rather than repelling them. And speech seasoned with salt is thoughtful, tasteful, with substance, engaging and wise. It is easy for me to be harsh, careless, or off-putting in how I speak of my faith to outsiders, to win an argument but lose the person. But you call for speech that is gracious and seasoned with salt, winsome and thoughtful, that draws rather than repels. Help me watch how I speak, especially to those outside the faith. Let my words be gracious, kind, and attractive, seasoned with salt, so that my speech commends the faith rather than repelling people from it. Help me speak with grace, that my words may draw others toward Christ. And help me continue steadfastly in prayer, watchful and thankful.