18
Salty
Jeff WeinkaufColossians 4:5-6
5-6 Use your heads as you live and work among outsiders. Don’t miss a trick. Make the most of every opportunity. Be gracious in your speech. The goal is to bring out the best in others in a conversation, not put them down, not cut them out.
In life, rarely is a win accomplished haphazardly. Rather the victory is won because of hard work and planning. Imagine if a professional basket ball team just "showed up" at game time and played. They'll probably score some points, there may even be standouts on the team who could propel them to "moments" of awesome. But those bursts of energy wont be able to overcome the coordinated play of their better prepared rivals.
Similarly, Colossians 4 is helping us to understand that just "showing up" for life will not get us the win either. We need to be purposeful in our time and in our interactions. We should get to know people, and work to understand where they are coming from. Vs 5 is full of active phrases: "Use your heads...Don't miss... Make the most". I like how vs 5 reads in the ESV translation as well "Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time."
Vs 6 explains some of the "how" to living strategically. Be an encourager! Not just sunshine all the time, but being gracious in our speech. The ESV version says our speech should be "seasoned with salt". Imagine food that is bland verses food that has flavor. Our words should have meaning and be filled with life and vibrancy. I like how the message version says "the goal is to bring out the BEST in others...". That may even be a hard conversation or even one where correction is involved. Still Vs 6 reminds us "not to put them down, not to cut them out".
The take away for me is clear - earn the right to be heard by living in an attractive way. Be intentional is my interactions both outside and inside of the family.
Lord let the fragrance of my lei be one of life and peace. May my words be an encouragement. Please help me to be active and purposeful in my interactions. Amen.
