(Chapter 4:2-6)
Chap. 4:2-6—In the previous section the exhortations were to specific groups of individuals, but now they broaden out to believers in general. The exhortations here have to do with the saints’ support of the spread of the truth through prayer and godly conduct. They are encouraged to pray for things in general, and particularly for the Lord’s servants in their work of communicating the truth, and also that the saints would maintain a proper testimony toward the lost.
Paul says, “Continue [persevere] in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving” (vs. 2). Oftentimes we pray for something but give up. This is not good. The Lord taught that “men ought always to pray, and not to faint” (Luke 18:1). It has been said that we need to pray as much as we need to breathe! The soul flourishes in the atmosphere of prayer, but languishes without it. Persevering in prayer does not mean that we are to badger God regarding something we want, and to persist in asking for it until He gives it to us. This manifests an unbroken spirit that insists on having its own way. If that is our attitude, to teach us a lesson, God just might grant us our request but send leanness into our souls with it (Psa. 106:15). James tells us that over all our prayers we must add, “If the Lord will” (James 4:15; Matt. 26:39). This manifests a spirit of submission to the divine will and an acknowledgment that we ultimately want His will in the matter. To “watch in the same” is to watch for the Lord’s answer to our prayer requests. This manifests faith. To do it “with thanksgiving” manifests confidence in the Lord. It is to say, “Whatever the Lord gives as an answer (be it ‘yes’ or ‘no’), I know that it will be the best for me, so I’ll rejoice and give thanks even before He makes His mind known.”
As mentioned, more specifically, Paul desired the prayers of the saints for the work of spreading the truth. He says, “That God would open unto us a door of utterance to speak the Mystery of Christ” (vs. 3).
Vss. 5-6—As to their conduct, he said, “Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time [opportunities]. Let your word be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” If we walk wisely in our daily lives, we will have “opportunities” to share the gospel with the lost (“them that are without”). Walking “toward” them implies a genuine seeking of their welfare. This opens doors when people see that we are genuinely interested in them. “Redeeming the time” refers to setting free (the meaning of redeem) time in our busy schedules to be used in service for the Lord. Paul speaks of it in Ephesians as well, but in connection with a different sphere (Eph. 5:15-21). Putting the two references together, we see that there are really only two spheres of service wherein we are to use our time:
• Redeeming time to be a help to those within the Christian community (“yourselves” – Eph. 5:19, 21).
• Redeeming time to be a help to those outside the Christian community (“them that are without” – Col. 4:5).
These verses, in Colossians 4, have to do with reaching out to the lost in the gospel. It is significant that “praying” is mentioned before reaching out to “them that are without.” This shows that all outreach work is to be done in felt dependence on the Lord.
“Let your word be always with grace, seasoned with salt” has to do with how we approach others. We should always conduct ourselves in a gracious, courteous, and kindly manner in all our interactions with the men of the world. This will work to win them for Christ. But our speech should also be “seasoned with salt.” This speaks of faithfulness. Thus, we are to remember to have a word for the conscience of the unbeliever, so that they might realize that they have to do with God, and that they need to be prepared to meet Him. Unbelievers’ consciences need to be touched, but we will cut off their ear if we “rag” on them all the time. Paul said that our speech is to be seasoned here and there with a faithful word to their consciences. We can be over-zealous in trying to save unbelievers and get known for pressing on men’s consciences too much. This turns people off and drives them away. Zealots like this seem to think that this verse reads: “Let your speech be always salt, seasoned with grace!” However, it is quite the other way around. Scripture indicates that it is possible to have “a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge” (Rom. 10:2). Zeal is good, but it needs to be guided by knowledge and wisdom. Paul said to the Galatians, “It is right to be zealous at all times in what is right” (Gal. 4:18). He adds here: “That ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” This implies that if we walk in wisdom toward them that are without, we will stir their interest and they will “ask” of us of “a reason of the hope” that is in us (1 Peter 3:15). When they have this spirit, we can point them to Christ.
Summary of the Practical Part of the Epistle That Results in the Display of Christ in the Saints
The foregoing brings the main part of the epistle to a close. If it is followed by the saints with moral exercise, the character of Christ will be seen in the us. There are three links in the development of this truth:
• WHAT is to be manifested—the character of Christ (chap. 3:12-15).
• HOW it is to be manifested—by being filled with Christ and His interests in all that we say and do (chap. 3:16-17).
• WHERE it is to be manifested—in every sphere of the believer’s life (chaps. 3:18–4:6).