If You Lack Wisdom, This Is A Post For You.
By Brother Isaiah Willis
“Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.”
Colossians 4:5–6
Being called to be the salt of the earth is not an easy task to bear. It can become easy to think, “I am walking with Jesus; what else matters?” We may begin to believe that it does not matter what others think of us, nor should we concern ourselves with their opinions. To an extent, we should walk in such a way that the only thing capable of moving us off the Rock is ourselves.
However, let us not get ahead of ourselves and forget that we are called to get our love one TO another. We are not to withhold the love God has given us. I believe the fifth verse of Colossians chapter four highlights this truth beautifully.
When Paul instructs us to walk in wisdom, I do not believe he means only when we feel like it, nor is he speaking solely of our spiritual walk. Certainly, we are called to walk by faith and not by sight, so there is a spiritual element to walking in wisdom. We will address that shortly, but first let us consider the practical side of it. If we are spiritual beings having a natural experience, then we must acknowledge both aspects.
I believe that at all times we should be ready to express the love of Christ to others. This is reflected in how we carry ourselves in how we dress, speak, work, and love. The latter part of verse five reveals that there is truly no time off in the Christian walk. Walking with Jesus is not a clock-in, clock-out relationship.
We often speak of God being an “on-time God.” If that is true, then whenever He directs us toward someone who is without, we should be equipped and ready. That is what it means to redeem the time. You never know who is without Christ, and if you are always waiting for the perfect moment, you may never have the opportunity to share His love with them.
In my own walk with Christ, many of my conversations revolve around the church, faith, and consistency. More often than not, these conversations come from curiosity rather than debate. This has been my personal experience, though I recognize there are people who seek to persuade others to adopt their beliefs. What I encounter most often are individuals who are curious about the life I live and why I choose to walk with the Lord.
Verse six speaks directly to me. I need to learn how to show grace to those who are without and guard myself from developing a “holier-than-thou” attitude. After all, I was a sinner saved by grace, and I still need that same grace in my life today.
When I speak, people should be able to sense the grace I have toward them and my desire for them to seek the face of the Lord. The same principle applies to being the salt of the earth. What I have come to understand is that you may be the only church some people ever attend. You may be the only Bible they ever read and the only representation of Jesus they ever encounter.
That is a tremendous responsibility. While I do not believe it is right for people to judge Jesus based solely on us, the reality is that many do. Therefore, we should always be prepared to defend our walk, and that defense is found in fighting the good fight of faith. Remain prayed up, studied up, and filled with love, ready at any moment to stand firm in your faith.
This is the spiritual element of walking in wisdom, because it takes a spiritual person to do what is contrary to the desires of the flesh.
The flesh will convince you that your appearance does not matter. It will cause you to believe there is no real power in your words. It will tell you that your works amount to nothing and that all your efforts have been in vain. Ultimately, it seeks to fill your mind with the belief that there is only hatred in the world and no place for love.
You must become spiritually minded to recognize these things for what they are: lies. Remember, the flesh is weak, but the spirit is willing. Continue to lean upon the Spirit, because our wisdom should come from above.
If we continually seek wisdom from Jesus, then when someone comes asking about Him, we will be able to share what the Lord has planted within our own hearts, minds, and souls. In doing so, we may help lead others closer to Him.