Grace Baptist Church, Nokomis, IL.

Text:

I remember when I was just a young boy watching the Three Stooges and thinking how funny they were, and then watching them years later and thinking how idiotic they were. I realized, though, that they were so funny precisely because they acted like idiots. They said the stupidest things. They carelessly hurt each other. They constantly retaliated when wronged. Much of the world lives like the Three Stooges, as if it were a joke and they could say and do whatever they wanted. But we are to live as wise men.

Wisdom implies calculated living. We have goals to accomplish, and we must live in such a way as to attain them. The world things that it lives for pleasure, but it’s rewards are fleeting and temporarily. God gives us eternal gifts, and a joy that far outweighs our sacrifices.

“Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” (Colossians 4:4-6)

Paul continues the train of thought from the previous two verses (v. 3-4). Paul asked for the Colossians to pray that he would be wise in explaining the gospel. We, too, ought to be wise in how we live out the gospel. We ought to be hard working. Yet we ought always to realize that God’s grace abounds. This is especially important, at least in terms of our witness, when we’re around unbelievers. Every moment is an opportunity to demonstrate our faith. Live as Jesus lived. Love your neighbor. Demonstrate your joy, hope, and peace. Die to self. Consider the needs of others above your own.

But our actions will not have their intended effect unless they are accompanied by words. “Preach the gospel always, and if necessary, use words” just doesn’t cut it. Our actions absolutely must reflect Christ, but the people around us will only come to know Jesus if our witness is verbal as well.

Our speech ought always be full of grace. This is speaking primarily about the way we talk with people, not necessarily what we’re talking to them about. In every conversation, whether it’s about football or politics or religion, we must be kind, and gentle, and peaceful. People have a longing within them to feel important and loved. Sometimes our need to feel important causes us to trample over others. When we decide instead to love others with our speech, it can drastically change the way we talk.

Being gracious in your speech means not needing to be right all the time. Being gracious in your speech means not retaliating when accused. Being gracious doesn’t mean you need to be a doormat. It is possible to assert yourself without losing your temper. But be careful when doing so. It’s much more important to maintain your witness than your pride. But graciousness in our conversations with others matters nothing unless we also offer the grace of God to them.

Service, and kindness, and deeds done in love towards others are great things. They are needed things. We ought to do more of those kinds of things. But unless our serving others leads people to Christ, it was a waste of time. It may have served a temporary need. But it did not address an eternal need. There are many humanitarian organizations that address temporary needs. The church’s responsibility to the people on the earth is to address both temporary and eternal needs. Not every conversation needs to be about Jesus, but some do.

We should have relationships with lost people. The greatest need that a lost person has is to know Jesus. Lost people will only come to know Jesus if we are faithful to share Jesus with them.