Colossians 4:6 – “Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.”
1 Peter 3:15 – “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.”
Ephesians 4:15, 16 – “But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.”
Truth is powerful. Truth gives people a sense of boldness. If used or shared in the flesh, it can cause harm to those you minister. While we know that truth naturally divides, we need to be careful not to push people away. To effectively share the truth with someone, it must be prepared. That’s what the word “seasoned” means in our text. It needs to be prepared in a way that will be palatable to the recipient of that truth. I don’t mean sugar-coating it. But again, if you aren’t careful, your words will fall upon deaf ears, and that person may not want to speak to you ever again.
Such is the case with a loved one of mine. I tried to shove truth down her throat, but she pushed back. I acted in the flesh. Sadly, we haven’t talked in over two years. She wants nothing to do with me. And I’m not sure if she’s saved. If not, hopefully, she will hear whoever God sends to her and believe in Christ as her Savior. We have a responsibility to carry out the truth of God’s Word. But it must be done right. Proverbs 18:19 says, “A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.” I’ve now learned the lesson of handling the truth effectively but carefully. It doesn’t matter if your intent is right. If you don’t make yourself patient, there may be severe consequences. I think the one thing we forget to do before talking to someone is praying. We need to ask God to prepare the hearts of those that we will minister to. Then pray that He will help us keep us right and bridle our tongues so that His Spirit can do the work. That’s the best way.
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