How
do we behave when we are not with Christians? Are we the same person when we
are with our colleagues and friends on weekdays as when we are with Christians
on Sundays? Paul instructs Christians to “walk in wisdom toward them that
are without.” Those without are the ones whom we get to spend the most time
with each day. They are our families, class mates, and colleagues. They are the
ones who know who we really are.
People
of the world judge our religion by our daily behavior. They don’t care how much
we know the bible or how many church services we attend but they will point a
finger at our religion the moment we stop behaving as Christians? We can’t be
soul winners for Christ when our friends and colleagues don’t see the need to
be one. It makes things worse when a Christian is behaving worse than a
non-Christian; such a Christian is walking in foolishness.
To
walk in wisdom is to walk with care. In this world, even the most educated and
intelligent people can behave badly. We read of politicians being brought down
and disgraced because of extra-marital affairs, a lawyer smashing a car’s
windscreen because he was angry with the other driver, a doctor charged with
drunk driving, and a teacher behaving inappropriately with a student; these are
acts of foolishness. Those folks were not walking in wisdom. Every day, we see
people behaving badly on the road, in the market, in the office, in the train,
and etc; they are not walking in wisdom.
When
a person is not walking in wisdom, he is making a fool of himself. He is
bringing shame and disgrace on himself. As Christians, we should know better
than to bring shame upon ourselves because we will also bring shame to God.
Paul rebuked the Jews for bringing shame to the name of God: “You who boast
in the law dishonor God by breaking the law. For, as it is written, The name of
God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you” (Romans 2:23-24, ESV).
In
Colossian 4, Paul lists two areas we should walk in wisdom:
1.
REDEEMING THE TIME (verse 5) – We are to be making the most of the time God
gives to us because time is limited and it is precious. A wise person uses time
wisely. A foolish person wastes it.
We
are so prone to wasting time. And more so today! In this age of smart phones,
more time are wasted each day. We see people spending hours playing games,
watching movies, surfing the facebook and internet; what are they doing? They
are wasting time!
To
redeem the time is to make the most of every opportunity of time.
i.
Do you have time with God? Do you have a scheduled time for God each day
ii.
Do you have time for God’s family? Do you spend time with them after
church?
iii.
Do you have time for your family? Paul wrote: “But if any provide not
for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the
faith, and is worse than an infidel.” (1 Timothy 5:8). What does it mean to
“provide”? It means more than just seeing to your family financially.
“Providing” also means caring for their physical, mental, emotional and
spiritual needs. It is giving your time.
2.
CONTROLLING OUR SPEECH. Paul wrote: “Let your speech be alway with grace,
seasoned with salt,” (verse 6). Have you heard of people shouting in
public? The words that came out from their mouths were not very pleasant,
right? They didn’t control their tongues; they were acting foolishly.
Our
speech should be “always with grace, seasoned with salt.” It means it is
pleasant, attractive, and graceful. Solomon wrote: “Pleasant words are as an
honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones” (Proverbs 16:24).
Good
words must be seasoned. It means it does not come out raw like a piece of raw
meat. But before the words proceed out of the mouth, they are filtered and
processed, so that they are pleasant words. Good words taste and sound good
because they have been seasoned. I know it is easier said than done, but we
must try.
People
in this world judge us by hearing how we speak and not how we preach. Let us
walk in wisdom.
Jimmy Lau
Psa
119:97 Oh how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.
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