Have you ever said something and immediately wondered what in the world caused you to say it? You knew what you said wasn’t wrong, but it could certainly be taken wrong. You try to backpedal out of the conversation but only seem to be digging a deeper hole. Unfortunately, for those of us who talk a lot, it happens more than we wish to admit. Words can be potent. They can heal and soothe a broken heart or ignite a fire of hate. They can speak the truth, or they can spread lies. A person’s reputation and character can be assassinated and ruined forever by their words or what others say. When I was growing up, there was a saying, “Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words can never hurt me.” That saying was a lie. I understand parents are trying to teach their children to ignore mean people instead of getting upset or fighting, but words can hurt. Words can scar a person for life. You can tell someone they are stupid long enough that they start believing it. Words are powerful weapons.
Many verses in scripture address the issue of what we say and how we say it. In Colossians 4:6, Paul gives us instructions on how to speak in a way that would be edifying to the Kingdom, a way that would portray us as who we say we are: Christians.
Colossians 4:6 “Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.”
To speak grace is to be accommodating and kind without compromising the truth. Speaking grace is extending to others what God has extended to us. Christ’s words must “dwell” in us. It must be part of who we are.
Colossians 3:16 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”
Kind and gracious words build up a person. They are as valuable as silver and feed the soul, but the opposite is worthless.
Proverbs 10:20-21 “The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth. The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.”
The opposite of grace would be mean and hateful. In Colossians 3:17, we are to speak in Jesus’ name. Remembering this will help control our tongue because it’s hard to yell at someone or be mean to them in Jesus’ name.
Colossians 3:17 “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”
Our words should be “seasoned with salt.” Salt has always been a staple in most households. It can be a very valuable ingredient in the home. It preserves and gives flavor. It can help heal a sore throat. It can cause people to be thirsty. It has even been used to remove stains in a coffee pot. So, how can we have salty speech?
Our words need to be words that will preserve a relationship. In Romans 10:12, we are to be kind to one another and prefer one another in honor. There may be times when you do have a better idea or a better answer to a situation, but to push forward could hurt feelings. In these situations, you must step back and preserve the other person’s feelings.
Romans 12:10 “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another;”
Salt makes food palatable. Do your words make the conversation pleasant and easier to swallow? Are your words encouraging, sweet, tender, and forgiving?
Salt can remove stains. Our words can lead others to repentance, which will remove the stain of sin from their lives.
Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”
Salt makes us thirsty. Do your words make people thirsty for Christ? We now live in a global world. People move, not just from city to city, but from country to country. We are a global society; anywhere you go, you will find people who have never heard the simple gospel of Jesus Christ. It is our duty to make others thirsty for what we have in Christ Jesus. We do this by living and treating them as Christ would. Loving them, being kind, helping to meet their needs, and sharing who Christ is to us. We need to be sensitive to each individual because some may come from a background where they know nothing about Jesus. Build a relationship to find out where they are in their knowledge so you will know where to start. By your love, you can make them thirsty for what you have.
By speaking words of grace that are seasoned with salt, you will know what to say and how to say it, which will have the greatest impact for the cause of Christ.
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