How Salty Are My Words?

Let's review the key verse stated in the last post, introducing the topic of gracious speech.  Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person. Colossians 4:6 (Now this is not talking about the salty speech of a sailor!). Speech is being compared to food flavorfully seasoned with salt.  You have tasted foods seasoned with too little salt or too much salt.  Neither is as enjoyable as if it was seasoned with just the right amount.  If our speech does not have enough "salt", it is boring or bland, uninteresting.  Words seasoned with too much "salt" might be overbearing, hard to get down, or almost gagging.  The intended meaning of the words might even be lost. Remember the meaning of gracious words given last time; giving joy, pleasure, delight?  Neither extreme, too little salt or too much salt, fit that description.   Though this passage seems to relate specifically, and perhaps most importantly, to the testimony our words give,  it is applicable in all situations.

 

So how do we add zest to bland and uninteresting words?  We might ask questions, discover what interests the other person, or keep abreast of current happenings in the world to lead to interesting conversation.   Think about someone you know that you enjoy talking to.  What makes conversation with them stimulating?

What about the other extreme - words that are too salty? Watch how people respond to your words.  Do they shut down or react in some other way? If the Holy Spirit brings a particular situation to your remembrance,  do a replay in your mind and think about how it would sound if someone spoke to you like you spoke to them.  (Just don't let it become a broken record!)  Be alert for good examples you can learn from.

What if we don't know if our speech, in general, has too much or not enough "salt"?  Ask for input from a good trusted friend or two.  In all of these situations, ask God to show you and teach you how to let your speech be as delightful as savory, well-seasoned food. That makes for gracious words.

Are My Words Gracious?

If you chose to read this because you thought you could get all the answers on how to speak graciously, you have come to the wrong place.  Over the past several weeks, the Lord has impressed on my heart that this is what he wants me to focus on in 2015.  So if you would like to come along to learn, share insights or pose questions, you are welcome!  We hope to do some “iron sharpening” and encourage each other along the way.

 

Let’s start in the best place – the Book, Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth, (an interesting acronym for BIBLE).  Colossians 4:6 NASB, Let your speech be always with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer each person. Anyone else find that verse challenging? 

In the subsequent posts, I am going to pick apart this verse, refer to other related verses, and tackle related aspects of the topic of grace-filled words.  For this time though, let’s just think about, and chew on the description of gracious speech taken from BlueletterBible.org; words which afford joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, and loveliness.