Colossians 4:5-6
Salt, or more specifically, the sodium in it, is an essential mineral for keeping our bodies functioning healthily. It helps regulate fluid balance, nerve and muscle function, and generally to just keeps the body in balance. But for most of us, salt has always been associated with taste. It brings out the flavor of food. Sometimes an enhancement, and other times it’s the only seasoning. But either way, it’s always on the table or in the season rack in the kitchen cupboard. I mean, can you imagine popcorn without salt (and in my opinion, a generous helping of melted butter…which also contains salt)? But beyond salt’s “taste value,” it also has another value. Paul, in writing to the church at Colossae, urged his readers to “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” In other words (no pun intended), let your words be “seasoned” well. Any conflict, no matter what it develops into, starts with words. Whether the school bully, a bad boss, or anyone, they always provoke or intimidate with harsh words, sometimes laced with profanity and meant to demean. When I have found myself on the receiving end of such words, my first inclination is to respond with my own peppered-up retort. In my younger days, that was the case a majority of the time. As I’ve gotten older, though it may be a struggle at times, I’m reminded of Proverbs 15:1, “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” A kind or at least thoughtful response to an unpleasant situation will often de-escalate tensions. Think about a conflict with your spouse, child, or other family member. Using a well-salted word, meaning gentle, in the heat of an argument can stop it in its tracks. This is no less true in our church family. When tensions rise over some issue, a kind and loving response can bring everyone to the table. Paul knew this, Jesus certainly preached about it, and our responsibility wherever and whenever to practice it.
Salt, or more specifically, the sodium in it, is an essential mineral for keeping our bodies functioning healthily. It helps regulate fluid balance, nerve and muscle function, and generally to just keeps the body in balance. But for most of us, salt has always been associated with taste. It brings out the flavor of food. Sometimes an enhancement, and other times it’s the only seasoning. But either way, it’s always on the table or in the season rack in the kitchen cupboard. I mean, can you imagine popcorn without salt (and in my opinion, a generous helping of melted butter…which also contains salt)? But beyond salt’s “taste value,” it also has another value. Paul, in writing to the church at Colossae, urged his readers to “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” In other words (no pun intended), let your words be “seasoned” well. Any conflict, no matter what it develops into, starts with words. Whether the school bully, a bad boss, or anyone, they always provoke or intimidate with harsh words, sometimes laced with profanity and meant to demean. When I have found myself on the receiving end of such words, my first inclination is to respond with my own peppered-up retort. In my younger days, that was the case a majority of the time. As I’ve gotten older, though it may be a struggle at times, I’m reminded of Proverbs 15:1, “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” A kind or at least thoughtful response to an unpleasant situation will often de-escalate tensions. Think about a conflict with your spouse, child, or other family member. Using a well-salted word, meaning gentle, in the heat of an argument can stop it in its tracks. This is no less true in our church family. When tensions rise over some issue, a kind and loving response can bring everyone to the table. Paul knew this, Jesus certainly preached about it, and our responsibility wherever and whenever to practice it.
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