SPEECH SEASONED WITH SALT (1)

“Let your SPEECH always be with GRACE, SEASONED with SALT, that you may know how you ought to answer each one” – Colossians 4:6

The imagery of Salt also relates to the Believer’s Speech-life: “Let your SPEECH always be with GRACE, SEASONED with SALT, that you may know how you ought to answer each one” (Col.4:6). The metaphor “seasoned with salt” means that Christians should speak words that are gracious, fitting, proper, truthful, loving, and uplifting, even when addressing difficult topics. Believers should be prepared to answer questions from unbelievers about their faith, with gentleness, respect, and words that reflect Christ, encourage others, and glorify God. We are called to speak with kindness and thoughtfulness, and to consider the IMPACT of our words on others.

“Please pass the salt” is a frequent request at the dinner table that’s coming from Apostle Paul’s epistle. While instructing the Colossian Christians how to communicate, he issued two imperatives: speak gracious words and season them with salt, always. This standard is high, because absolutes like always and each do not allow for exceptions – we must always speak with Grace, “seasoned with salt”! Our speech must be well-salted, but not “salty”! To be impactful, salt does not require a large quantity. A little word can produce great, eternal impact, preserved to bring fruit for eternity; a little word spoken to a sinner or fellow believer can bring lasting blessings to their souls. 

We’re called to speech that is gracious – courteous, kind, and pleasant, which is more than simply being polite: “When he speaks kindly, do not believe him, for there are seven abominations in his heart” (Pro.26:25). There is a type of speech that sounds gracious but is hiding hatred, folly, and sin! Speech that is truly gracious is fitting and proper: “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearer” (Eph.4:29). Gracious words promote instruction: “sweetness of the lips increases learning” (Pro.16:21b). They are noble: “You are fairer than the sons of men; Grace is poured upon Your lips...” (Psa.45:2a).

Seasoned words are pleasant and sweet to the soul (Pro.15:26). But truth can also make people squirm. Jesus’ own townsfolk marveled at His gracious words, right before they tried to throw him over a cliff (Lk.4:22, 28-29). Gracious speech does not preclude candor. Delivering imperatives to obey, Paul’s words were not soft, but they were well-seasoned. The Grace of Well-seasoned speech is about using words for the Glory of God; being kind and gentle in communication. A gentle tone can convey love and compassion, while a harsh tone can sound judgmental. We are called to “pass the salt”: share the gospel humbly, but impactfully, ready to answer questions about our hope.

For our speech to “be always with grace, seasoned with salt” means that by the grace of Christ, our communication with God and others is free of corruption and full of the flavours of spiritual wisdom, truth and love.