COLOSSIANS 4:2-6 OUR WORDS AND OUR WALK

BE PRAYERFUL (VV. 2–4)

PRAYER AND THE BELIEVER (VV. 2)

NEW MANS MOUTH IS SHOWN BY PRAYER PROCLAMATION, PERFORMANCE –RIGHT LIVING, PERFECTION –SEASONED WITH SALT

Does God really answer prayer? If so, God’s Children need to ‘continue [persevere] earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving’. Prayer prevails with God because we are his adopted Children (Gal. 4:6). These words echo the words of our Saviour who taught that ‘men always ought to pray and not lose heart’ (Luke 18:1). Time must be set aside for prayer. Jesus told the parables of the friend at midnight (Luke 11:5–8) and the unjust judge (Luke 18:1–8) to encourage us to intercede until the answers come.

PRAYER IS A BATTLE: ‘continue earnestly in prayer’. Mental, emotional and physical effort is involved in prayer, and one can feel exhausted by it all. This is because it has to do with the whole person. Thus when we pray the mind is engaged (1 Cor. 14:15), the will is involved (Acts 12:5) and the heart is burdened (James 5:16). This is illustrated both by our Saviour in Gethsemane, where he was ‘exceedingly sorrowful, even to death’ (Matt. 26:38– 44), and by Jacob, when he wrestled in prayer at Peniel and would not let Jehovah go until he was blessed by him (Gen. 32:24–31).

PRAYER IS A MINISTRY: ‘being vigilant in it’. Prayer is vital if the ‘spoilers’ are not to corrupt the minds and hearts of the believing members. Satan wants to irritate and distract with disputes, problems, etc., but it is a saint’s duty to bring all these issues to God in prayer. When this is done, Satan will fail and the ‘spoilers’ will not succeed (James 4:8). Prayer cannot be made if you are asleep, as it is wakeful fellowship and communion with the Father through the Son by the help of the Holy Spirit (Matt. 26:40–41a).

PRAYER BRINGS VICTORY: ‘with thanksgiving’. Prayer brings victory when it is full of thanksgiving. Paul adds the element of thanksgiving deliberately, because praise of this sort ‘imparts spiritual freshness to prayer’ (Carson). Let every Christian be grateful for grace, happy about holiness and delighted with so great a salvation (1 Thess. 5:18). The Fatherhood of God is evident here, and the spiritual relationship which believers have with Christ is emphasized. The best types of prayers are those ‘according to his will’ (1 John 5:14–15). Jesus taught us in the Lord’s Prayer to say ‘Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven’ (Matt. 6:10). Faith tells us that God’s good pleasure is best for us because his wisdom is to be preferred to ours. We need therefore to submit to his will with meekness, while putting away self-will and pride.

Paul says we need Strong prayer, consistent, watchful, and thankful

Prayer and intercession (vv. 3–4)

Paul, as a missionary pastor and preacher, felt the need for prayers of intercession on behalf of himself and the team he worked with. What does he request?

THAT HE WILL PREACH CHRIST FREELY (V. 3A): Prayers are requested so that all obstacles hindering the work are removed and a door opened which will give Paul opportunity for the preaching and teaching of the gospel (Rev. 3:8). This, however, does not guarantee that Paul will not have opposition or trouble as he does the will of Christ (1 Cor. 16:9). Pastors and all engaged in evangelism and church planting need prayer support. This is an act of fellowship in the gospel, and Paul requested this fellowship on several occasions (2 Cor. 1:11; 1 Thes. 5:25; 2 Thes. 3:1–2).

THAT HE WILL PREACH CHRIST TRULY (V. 3B): Who and what Jesus Christ is must be faithfully and consistently made known when Paul and his team preach the gospel, for it reveals the incarnate Christ as the Son of God and Saviour of the world (Eph 6:19–20). Jesus Christ is co-equal and co-eternal with the Father and the Holy Spirit and this is the ‘mystery’ Paul preaches (1:26–27; 2:2; Eph. 3:3–4, 9). There is no other Saviour (John 14:6).

THAT HE WILL PREACH CHRIST CLEARLY (V. 4): He requests that he and his team will be able to speak clearly and boldly to sinners about the glories and love of Christ. He wishes to make the gospel ‘manifest’, ‘to make clear by uncovering’. He wants to speak plainly and not incomprehensibly, in order that others can share in the joy of eternal life (Rom. 15:13; 1 John 1:4). He wants to be able to discern when to speak and how much to say, and how to share the message so that it is not misunderstood.

Be wise (vv. 5–6)

‘Walk in wisdom towards those who are outside, redeeming the time’ (v. 5). Paul uses this term ‘outside’ in other epistles to distinguish between the members and non-members of the local churches (1 Cor. 5:12–13; 1 Thess. 4:12). Our actions towards non-Christians must be controlled, with God’s grace shining through our words and works. Respect must be shown for all those who are made in the image of God. This exhortation is to ‘walk’ and ‘talk’ wisely, and emphasizes the correct use of available time.

We get wisdom by worship, prayer, studying and instruction from Godly teachers

Time management (v. 5b)

Christians are to make the most of all the opportunities that God gives to them. Thus Paul calls upon them to ‘redeem the time’. Although this is, as Thayer says, ‘an obscure phrase’, it implies that believers should ‘make time your own property’ (NIV) by being diligent in the use of it. Christ is drawing the world and its powers to his judgement seat at his Second Coming (Rom. 8:19), when there will be no more time to evangelize or preach; the days of mercy will then be over and the longed-for ‘not yet’ will become a reality. Paul uses the same phrase, ‘redeeming the time’, in Ephesians, but adds, ‘because the days are evil’ (Eph. 5:15–16). Thus everything is to be done for the glory of God and in the light of eternity, remembering that we live in a fallen universe. Don’t put off until tomorrow what should be done today, because procrastination is the thief of time. ‘Redeeming the time’ is about making the best use of time, making time your own property, but this will prove impossible unless one is ‘filled with the Spirit’ (Eph. 5:18). There is need for the household of God to:

REDEEM THE TIME LOST. We cannot turn the clock back—yesterday is lost forever— but today and tomorrow are ours! God said to the prophet Joel, ‘I will restore … the years that the swarming locust has eaten’ (Joel 2:25). Time has been lost by procrastination, pleasure, laziness, disobedience, etc.; so let us put these aside and make the most of what time is left.

REDEEM THE TIME LEFT. Jesus said, ‘The night is coming when no one can work’ (John 9:4). Thus we are reminded that our days are numbered and our time is short. How long do we have left here on earth? How long will the door be opened still? Do we understand what the will of the Lord is (Eph. 5:17)?

REDEEM THE TIME LOANED. We can miss opportunities; we can fail to act when opportunity comes; we can be too late and the door can shut. Yet we depend on heaven for the time that we are allowed. Time is loaned to us and, as stewards of Christ, we must use it wisely and grasp it fully with zeal, while we have strength and opportunity.

Word management (v. 6)

When speaking, care must be taken to be gracious and wise: ‘Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt.’ To speak well of Christ, local churches and pastors is the height of wisdom. People are more inclined to ‘read’ believers’ actions rather than the Bible. Wise words from believers will prevent outsiders slandering the local church, and will help to advance the kingdom of Christ. Christians are to let God’s grace teach them how to handle others well. Paul’s use of the word ‘always’ alerts us to the need to show grace even when provoked (1:11; Eph. 4:29). Because of this, the believer’s conversations and retorts need to be ‘seasoned with salt’. Paul is reminding them that the tongue is the most difficult member of the body to control (James 3:1–10). His illustration is apt, as Christian conversation should be both appetizing (tasty) and beneficial (nutritious), thus leaving the outsiders wanting more (1 Tim. 3:7).

Put your own name in this verse: ‘Let …’s speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt.’ Let this be so when you are with your friends and the tendency is to be unguarded and crude, or when confronted by your enemies and the tendency is to be rude and harsh. Rather let there be a gracious habit of speech, not abusive, not vindictive, but truthful and loving (Eph. 4:15a; 1 Peter 2:23; Prov. 10:32; Eccles. 10:12). Paul is encouraging us to speak the right word to the right person at the right time.

 

 

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