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Speech Seasoned with Salt
“Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person” (Col. 4:6).
Have you ever thought there are just some things easier said than done? And, some things easier read than practiced? Well, this is one of those verses. It is so easy to read but challenging to put into practice. I really wish I were better at this.
Consider: how can our speech always be gracious? Season it with salt. Salt is used for flavor. It is a preservative. It creates thirst. It cures. What if our speech reflected the wisdom that offered healing? What if our speech created thirst for right and truth? What if our speech was a cure for hurting people? What if our speech preserved a relationship?
Have you ever thought, “I wish I had not said that.” “I wish I had the right word to say at the time.” We can know how to answer a person when we speak with grace. Paul will say, “In meekness or humility, correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps grant them repentance so that they may know the truth” (2Tim. 2:25). Solomon will say, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit” (Prov. 18:21). Paul will say, “…speaking the truth in love…” (Eph. 4:15).
Think about applying this in this manner: husband-wife, parent-child, elder-church, and preacher-listener. How much more effective would we be in all these relationships when we answer if we seasoned our speech with grace. Acid burns and destroys. Love builds. Grace gives what is needed. Grace grows out of love. Let’s give this a try when we use our tongue. Let’s use this little instrument for building, not destroying.
