The Pulpit Commentary — Colossians — Section 242

Vers. 5, 6.-The Christi.an's conduct and conversati~n in the world. In these closing. exhortations we are taught-- • ' • J. THE PRINCIPLES WfilCH SHOULD GUIDE US IN OUR INTERCOURSE WITH THE WORLD, (Yer. 5.) In no Pharisaic spirit we have to speak of" them that are without" (need- lessly, guiltily outside the family of God), but are in close. contact with us "within;" who are not called to judge them or to '' have no company" with them, b1.1t to live in such a way as to bless and save them (1. Cor. v. 9-13 ; ix. 19-22)., The wisdom demanded includes: 1. Consiste'flcy, as its most essential element. tife.for others is a law running through God's universe, and finding its highest illustration· in the. life aI)d cross of Christ and of Christians "in him" (John xii. 24, 25; Rom. xiv. 7). To benefit others spiritually, the chief qualification is not gifts, but ch~racter.. The. Hves .of Christians are the world's Bible (2 Cor. iii. 2, 3). See that the text'is not c·orrupted or. illegible. Live so that the more you are known the more you will be !)steemed (let not "distance lend enchantment to the view''), so that the an;x.ious. or the dying would naturally send to you for guidance, and your judgment or reproof would carry with it· the weight of a holy character. Beware of the "dead flies" which mar this wisdom (Eccles. x. 1; Eph. v. 15-17; Phil. ii. 14, 15; 1 Pet. ii. 11, 12). But while the whole of our "walk" must be consistent, the wisdom which is to mark it includes more than this (Matt. x. 16; Rom. xvi. 19). Some may remember what were their chief hin- drances caused by the characters of Christians while they were still "without; " let them guard against these. 2. Christian cheer/ulness. So as to refute the libels of Sat.an and his satellites {Job xxi. 14, 15; MaL iii. 14, 15), and prove the sincerity of our al"owed belief (Ps. xxxiv. 8; lxxxiv. 11, 12). 3. Christian charitableness. Be very strict in judging yourselves, bnt do not set up your own consciences as an infallible uist for othern (cf. 1 Cor. xi. 31 with Matt. vii. 2). Seek to purify and enligh~en the heart, rather than to denounce acts that may not seem wrong to the half-enlighteued doer (Matt. :s:ii. 33). Illustrate from Elisha's treatment of Naaman (2 Kings v. 15- Hl). 4. Well-regulated zeal. Zeal is implied in "redeeming the. time," letting no opportunity slip you of seeking to do good in these evil days (Eph. v. 16), even though at times it mi"'ht appear to some to be "out of season" (2 'l'im. iv. ~; Gal. •Vi. 10). But wisdom is ';ieeded here, or our efforts may be like random shots in a b?,ttle, i11juring friends more than foes (e.g. Mark ix. 38; Luke ix. 54). Silence may at ~imes be more ""'olden" than speech. Matt. vii. 6 must be combined wiLh Mark xvi. 15. lL THE SPECIAL WISDOM NEEDED Fon PROFITABLE CONVERSATION. (Ver. 6; Prov. xviii. 21.) By "always with grace" is not mea.nt always religious, but. always cop,sistent. with "this grace wherein we stand," and calculated to win the favour and promote the highest good of those who hear us (Eph. iv. 29). Therefore we must seek that it be "seasoned with salt," which preserves from corruption and gives relish to our food. Both sen5es are probably included. Vital religion being distasteful to the natural heart, care is needed that in our conversation we neither degrade the religion we profess nor. increase aversion to it by the in~ipidity of our talk (cf. Job vi. 6; xxvi. 3). Let our rule be Elihu's (Job xxxiii. 3; cf. Ps. xxxvii. 30, 31; Prov. ,xv. 4). One object of this care is" that ye may know," etc. '\Ve must be prepared to be questioned and cross- qncslioned ou our holy faith. .Prov. xx. 4, 5 may both need to be observed (o.s by llH, IV, 1-18.] THE EPISTLE TO THE COLOSSIANS. 239