The Pulpit Commentary — Colossians — Section 228

Ver. 5.-The behaviour of Ohristiam in the world. "Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.'' Consider- I. THE PERSO~S WHO ARE TO BE INFLUENCED BY OUR WALK. "Them that are ,,ithout.'' Christians are those who are within (1 Cor. v. 12). Unbelievers are" with- out "-outside the Church, without God, without Christ, without hope in the world. They are those whom "God judgeth" (1 Cor. v. 13). Believers ought to ha.ve regard to such persons, not only in their prayers, but in the wisdom of their personai walk. II. THE NATURE .A.ND IMPORTAKCE OF THE BELIEVER'S WALK DEFORE THE WORLD. " Walk in wisdom, ... redeeming the time." 1. It is a wise walk. " Be ye wise as ser- pents" (Ma.tt. x. 16). Zea.l is not enough. Love is not enough. Walk circumspectly, RO as to give no offence or put occasions of reproach in the wa.y of sinners. 'l'his is done by believers (1) walking in the light of God's Word (Ps. cxix. 1); (2) walking in all faithfulness of their calling (1 Thess. iv. 11, 12; 1 'l'im. vi. 1); (3) walking in love to one another, without murmurings or disputings (Phil. ii. 15, 19); (4) walking in meekness toward a.11 men (Titus iii. 1, 2; Jas. iii. 13); (5) walking in a.11 patience and constancy under rebuke or injury (1 Pet. iii. 13-16). 2. Such a walk is influ- ential toward unbelievers. (1) A. believer ought to be more careful of his wa.lk before them than before believers. (2) Such a walk ha.s a. winning effect upon the world, which thus sees the reality of true religion. Believers are to be" living epistles of Christ, known aud read of all men" (2 Cor. iii. 3). (3) A. foolish wa.lk will ea.use the enemy to blaspheme. 3. Believers ought to seek comtant opportunities ofobeying this command. " Redeeming the time." External opportunities are to be sought for, and never to be neglected. Ministers must preach while the door is open; people must pra.y at every opportunity (Eph. vi. 18; Luke xx.i. 36). They must walk in the light before the night comes. '£he times may not always be favourable.-'!'. C. Ver. 6.-The importance of seasonable speech. "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with sa.lt, that ye ma.y know how to answer each one." 'l'?e conver- Ha.tion of believers is to have reference to "those without" as well as their personal behaviour. L TUE NATURE OF SEASONABLE SPEECH. 1. It is to be" always with grace." (1) It is to spring out of some grace of God in the !,cart, such as kuowledge,joy, love, fear; to be seasoned with the recollection of God's grace to us in Christ (Ps. xl. 11); and to minister grace to the hearers (Eph. iv. 29). 2. It is to consist of gracious words. (1) N,,t words or railing, or blasphemy, or corruption; (2) but words that are (a) seasonable (Prov. xv. 23), (b) wholesome (Eph. iv. 2!:1), (c) kindly (Prov. xxxi. 26), (d~ hopeful. ::i. The conversation of believers is to be uniformly with grace. The precept 1s always in force. Much <lepends upon the continuity of a gracious hab)t of talk. It is_ to be ,xcrcised in all places, at all times, yet with due regnrd to what 1s seasonable or timely. 4. It is to be seusorced with salt. It is not to be insipid and without point., so as to be iucapable of edifying man's spirit. It must have penetrative force, either for ~he yur- J•ose of directing the ingnirer or answering the scoffer. "'l'hc tongue of the _wise 1s ~s choice silver;" "'l'he heart of the wise teachcth liis mouth, and ad<leth learning io his OH. IV, 1-18.] THE EPISTLE '1'0 'l'HE COLOSSIANS. 225