It’s About Time We Walk in Gospel Wisdom

Mark A Green

Listen Up To The One In Charge • Sermon • Submitted 5 years ago

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Busy! Busy, busy, busy, busy, busy. Busy, busy, busy, busy!!! I am JUST SO BUSY!

Title:

Text:

Main Idea: You Only Have So Much Time, Use it Wisel

Introduction

Honestly, when I ask people how they are doing a vast majority of the time their response is “Busy! I am just so BUSY!!!”

Attention (Why should they listen to you?)

And I don’t doubt them, I’m sure they legitimately are “busy”.

The question is, “Busy doing what?” “What are we so busy doing?”

And the next question is, “Should we be busy doing what we are so busy doing?”

These are questions we must, especially as believers in Christ, grapple with!

I have my planner! I set my goals, I try to carry out my tasks with faithfulness and industry!

And no doubt you have a planner or a calendar that is full of the things you have determined should be accomplished in your day, week, month, year, etc...

But what about God’s Planner for you? What about God’s Calendar for you. Does your Planner and God’s planner match up? Are they in sync? Do you have the same agenda for yourself that God has for you? Have you even considered this as a possibility?

If we are going to be busy, perhaps we should be busy doing the things the Lord has on His planner for us?

Well, there are many things the Lord has for His people to be busy doing. And I am excited to share with you two specific things from . Two things that I believe are so important that Paul saved them for the end of his letter.

What is the Biblical Solution?

What do the hearers need to know?

Main Textual Idea:

Main Idea: You Only Have So Much Time, Use It Wisely!

So, what are these two things? Well, one of them has to do with how you walk and the other has to do with how you talk. Let’s take a look at the first one...

Transition:

Body (Satisfaction)

1. Use Your Time Wisely As You Walk With Unbelievers (vs. 5)

Lead in...Each day, everyday, you and I walk among those who do not believe. In fact, in most cases we are surrounded more by unbelievers than believers! They are either alive in Christ or the “Walking Dead”!

C.S. Lewis identified this in his book, “The Weight of Glory”...

Col

Colossians 4:5 ESV

5 Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.

“There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts, civilizations - these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub and exploit - immortal horrors or everlasting splendors.” - C.S. Lewis

Immortal horrors or everlasting splendors! Such a profound thought and Jesus tells us clearly that there are more unbelieving than believing

Matthew 7:13–14 ESV

13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

And so the Apostle Paul gives a clear admonition to those in Colossae and to us today on how we are to walk. Look at verse 5...

Colossians 4:5 ESV

5 Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.

Walk in wisdom toward outsiders - Who are the outsiders? Those who have yet to bow the knee to Jesus Christ. Those who are not followers of Christ. And the challenge from Paul is that we believers ought to walk in wisdom.

What does a wise walk look like? Well, he answers the question in the second half of the verse. “making the best use of the time.”

So, a believer is to demonstrate wisdom to the unbelieving world by making the best use of his or her time.

What do you think Paul had in mind when he wrote this? Well, we get a clue from another letter that Paul wrote that sounds quite simular...

Ephesians 5:15–17 ESV

15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

-17

And we see some similarities.

Don’t live your life in an unwise way - be wise! How? By using your time well! The days are evil! In other words, as we live in this sin ravaged world, use your time well by doing not your will, not the will of the world, but the will of the Lord!

In fact, Paul says it very strongly! “Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”

So, what is the will of the Lord, especially in conjunction with and ?

Illustration -

Both deal with God’s will in how we use our time with unbelievers. Especially...

Colossians 4:5 ESV

5 Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.

But I have some other thoughts w

Illustration -

Now, as I thought about this, I know this might sound a little silly, but as a Christian, we are agents of God sent on assignment.

So, picture yourself in the morning getting out of bed, hearing the “Mission Impossible” theme playing...

“Your mission, if you choose to accept it is to carefully live your life in a WISE way among the “outsiders. This message will self-destruct in 5 seconds.”

Okay, so you and I, because we are believers, choose to accept the mission. We choose to carefully live our lives in a wise way among the outsiders. But where are the instructions on HOW to accomplish this? What does this even look like?

Well, we should define the word WISE - that would be a good place to start.

Argumentation - Now, in verse 6 Paul gives some very practical ways this can be applied. And we will get there in the next point.

σοφία - insight, skill, prudence, sound judgment, shrewdness, the skillful application of truthful knowledge.

Do you know who this sounds like? God Himself!

Application -

And where do we get to see God in action? In the Second Person of the Trinity - Jesus Christ!

Hebrews 1:1–3 ESV

1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

God the Son is the radiance of the glory of God the exact imprint of his nature!

We see σοφία in Jesus Christ Himself. In fact, we can say that Jesus Christ is the personification of Wisdom. Not the world’s wisdom! But the wisdom of God Himself...

1 Corinthians 1:18–25 ESV

1Cor

The wisdom of Christ is the Gospel. You and I have the glorious privilege of carrying the gospel of Jesus Christ to the walking dead among us. We have the honor of sharing the life giving Word of God that is FOOLISHNESS to those who are dying but to those who have ears to hear, it is the sweetest sound one can ever hear. It is the sound of Jesus calling...

Matthew 11:28–30 ESV

28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Matt

And the reason He can say that His yoke is easy and His burden is light is that He carried it for you to calvary and hung on it, having his own soul tormented so you might find rest for yours. He bore the punishment that you so richly deserved and gave you rest!

This is wisdom! This is the Gospel! And for those of us who have submitted our lives to this profound truth now have the prividge to share it with those who are yet to come to faith in Christ.

Oh, but Mark, God could never use me! I have no bible or seminary degree. I get all tongue tied and sound like a fool! There are way better candidates our there that God can use than me.

1 Corinthians 1:26–31 ESV

26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

1 Cor

1 Corinthians 1:18–31 ESV

18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” 20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

For the reasons you think God cannot use you for the communication of the Gospel are the exact reasons why He can and He will.

So, how do you walk in wisdom? Walk like Jesus! How do you make the best use of your time? Be a fool for Christ by sharing the wisest message ever given. The Gospel

Application -

Romans 10:14–15 ESV

14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”

How will the

Look at your feet - Paul commands us to “Walk in wisdom toward the outsiders, making the best use of the time.”

How beautiful are your feet?

Review - You Only Have So Much Time, Use It Wisely!

Use Your Time Wisely As You Walk With Unbelievers

2. Use Your Words Wisely Because You Only Have So Much Time (vs. 6)

Lead in…Well, Paul moves from the feet to the lips. As the old saying goes, “Our Walk must match our Talk.” Look at how Paul finishes his thought...

Colossians 4:6 ESV

6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

Text -

Our words are powerful. Solomon reminds his readers of this fact

Proverbs 18:21 ESV

21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.

James says virtually the same thing hundreds of years later...

Illustration -

James 3:4–10 ESV

4 Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.

And so Paul, with his last admonishment of this letter to the Colossians instructs this dear church to use their mouths for good! And his first instruction is...

“Let your speech ALWAYS be gracious...” Now, I just read from that “no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.” And then Paul comes along and says quite the opposite. But please notice what James says, “no human being can tame the tongue.” But God can!

God through the power of the Holy Spirit can change the speech of the redeemed man or woman to reflect the character and grace of God Himself. Only God can do this because only God can change the heart. And Jesus tells us clearly that whatever comes out of the mouth is a reflection of the heart.

And so Paul can say legitimately to these Christians in Colossae and to us as well, “Speak with graciousness” Now certainly we are to do this to all people, but in the context of this passage, Paul is referring to how believers ought to speak to unbelievers. There ought to be a marked difference in how a believer speaks in the the world verses the unbeliever.

Grace (χάρις) - attractiveness, charm, winsomeness, favor, care/help, kindness.

Illustration -

This is how I picture Jesus talking with most people. I believe He spoke the truth in love! I believe He was charming, winsome and kind.

The woman at the well? Why in the world would she continue to engage in a conversation with a Jewish Rabbi unless he was gracious in his speech? He said very hard things to her and about her. He knew she was in an adulteress relationship and told her about it and yet she wasn’t offended to the point of leaving the conversation! We don’t have the benefit of hearing the intonation of the exchange between Jesus and this woman, but I am willing to bet that even though He spoke hard truth to this unbelieving woman He did it with an abundance of grace.

Ladies and gentlemen, we must speak truth to people. The unbeliever who remains unconverted will spend an eternity in hell. This is the raw, unadulterated truth. What does this truth do to your heart? Does it break it? Does it tear it up? Does it cause compassion to well up in your soul?

That person you have worked with for 5 years that doesn’t know Jesus will spend eternity in hell unless they turn from their sin and turn to Jesus as their only hope for eternal life! Do you talk with them about this reality? How do you talk with them about this reality? If we can learn anything from Paul and Jesus, it is we are ALWAYS GRACIOUS in how we talk to those who need Jesus.

But Paul doesn’t stop with graciousness. Because graciousness, in an of itself won’t draw someone into a saving relationship with Jesus. But if you through a little salt in there, well, now you’re going to make them a little bit thirsty!

“I’m sure you have heard the old saying, “You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make um drink?” We’ll there’s another saying that goes along with that one...

“You can lead a horse to water but you can make ‘um drink!” “But you can put salt in their oats.”

Why in the world would you put salt in oats for a horse to eat? Well, to make ‘um thirsty of course!

Friends! You need to put a little salt in your gracious speech to make people thirsty for more!

How do we do this? What does this even look like?

Well, first there isn’t one single way to do it. There isn’t a “one size fits all approach.” That’s what the end of verse 6 is saying.

Colossians 4:6 ESV

6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

Do you see this? “so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.”

“each person” - Bob is different than Sally and Bill is different than Ralph. One approach may work well with one person but not another.

“

Allow me to give you some salty suggestions.

J.A. Medders a Pastor from Tomball, Texas suggests...

Pastor, Tomball, Texas

“If you struggle to get the conversation with your friend, neighbor, or barber rolling toward the gospel, there is one question you can ask that will get you there quickly.”

“What do you think Jesus is doing right now?”

“When I recently asked this question to our server at a restaurant, she was struck. “What do you mean is doing? He’s dead. He’s not alive.” She picked up on my grammar. The red carpet suddenly rolled out for me to tell her Jesus is not dead. He folded up his grave clothes, walked out alive, is still alive today, and desires for her to be saved.”

When I recently asked this question to our server at a restaurant, she was struck. “What do you mean is doing? He’s dead. He’s not alive.” She picked up on my grammar. The red carpet suddenly rolled out for me to tell her Jesus is not dead. He folded up his grave clothes, walked out alive, is still alive today, and desires for her to be saved.

Jesus is today inviting sinners to faith in him. The one who hears our good news in evangelism, hears his voice ().

Jesus is holding the universe together with his words ().

Jesus is sitting at God the Father’s right hand ().

Jesus is interceding for his people ().

Jesus is the mediator of the new covenant with God ().

Jesus is powerfully working among his church (; ).

Jesus is coming back ().

Remember the radical use of grammar in evangelism — the saving power of a two-letter word. https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/one-question-to-unlock-your-evangelism

https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/one-question-to-unlock-your-evangelism

J. Warner Wallace suggests that this is the best question to ask is “What do you think happens after we die?” He says...

It’s Diagnostic - You will learn their worldview right away

It’s Disarming - “Questions about the afterlife are often easier to ask than questions about God, even though the discussion of one inevitably leads to the discussion of the other. Many people have given thought to issues of life and earth, even though they haven’t seriously considered the existence of God. You’ll be surprised how many people are willing to talk about this question.”

It’s Directed - “The question, ‘What do you think happens when we die?’ is directed at the most important offer of the Gospel: forgiveness and eternal life.”https://coldcasechristianity.com/writings/the-best-question-to-ask-when-starting-a-conversation-about-god/

https://coldcasechristianity.com/writings/the-best-question-to-ask-when-starting-a-conversation-about-god/

There are hundreds of more ideas online. I just googled “questions to engage people in evangelism” and found these and more!

28 years ago this October, someone asked me a question that is forever burned in my memory. “Would you like to do a bible study with me?” It was a simple question that God used to propel me into His word with someone who knew His Word. It was that question that set me on the path to redemption.

It was gracious and it had enough salt in to to make me thirst for more. God used it! Here I am today because of it!

You only have so many words you will speak over the course of your life. And when I think of some of the foolish things I have said, it’s embarrassing! Why not purpose doing what Paul says in this passage? When it comes to dealing with that lost friend, neighbor, family member, whomever God places in your path, “Let your speech ALWAYS be gracious - and put a little salt in so they get thirsty for more - that you may know how you ought to answer each person.”

Why don’t you try it this week? I’m sure you can find some TIME to obey the lord and talk to someone about Jesus this week. Pray each day for God to direct you to the person who needs to hear about Jesus. And then, do it!

Start up a gracious conversation with them and then ask them a salty question and see where God takes it!

Review - You Only Have So Much Time, Use It Wisely!

Use Your Time Wisely As You Walk With Unbelievers

Use Your Words Wisely Because You Only Have So Much Time

Conclusion

Lead in...What is the tension here?

Text -

Explanation -

Illustration -

Argumentation -

Application -

Review -

Conclusion (Visualization)

You know, I think this is significant. We have journeyed through Paul’s letter to Colossae. We have learned some significant theological truths, we have grown to understand the heresies that they were dealing with, we have been challenged with the idea that Jesus Christ is the supreme ruler of all creation!

Action they should take

And now we come to the last two verses of admonition and command from Paul. (We still have two more sermons left in the series, but they contain Paul’s recognition of those serving alongside him and other important things.)

But verses 5-6 are Paul’s last command to the church at Colossae! After all of his instruction, after all his teaching, the last thing he challenges them with is how they walk and how they talk!

More specifically that their walk and their talk are to be used to witness about Christ! This is the VERY BEST USE OF THEIR TIME!

Yes, we are a busy people and our day planners and calendars are full to the point of overflowing!

But, If we are going to be busy, perhaps we should be busy doing the things the Lord has on His planner for us?

In light of this, what changes do you need to make to your planner to accomplish what God has for you in the time He has given you?

May you make the BEST use of the time He has entrusted to you!

Connection Group Reflection Questions

Why is it so important for believers to “Walk in wisdom toward outsiders?” Discuss ways we can and should do this.

According to and , what can we do to make “the best use of the time?”

What is our speech an indicator of? When is it difficult for you to have “gracious speech” toward outsiders?

How do we season our speech with salt? Discuss ways you can do this.

What does Paul mean when he says “so that you may know how you ought to answer each person?” (Hint: One size doesn’t fit all when it comes to witnessing for Christ).

Who are you attempting to reach for Christ this week? Pray for each other about this!

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