The Right Amount Of Salt, Please!

THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF SALT, PLEASE

Col. 4:5-6

INTRODUCTION

A. HUMOR

1. I heard about this man, he was taking a walk in the woods with his friend when suddenly they encounter a huge grizzly bear about 20 yards in front of them. They both froze in their tracks. As the bear intently stared them down, they contemplated what they should do. Finally, one man knelt down and tied his shoes and said to his friend, “I think we should run.”

2. His friend said, “Are you crazy? We can’t outrun a grizzly bear!” The man said, “I know that. I don’t have to outrun him. I just have to outrun you.”

B. TEXTS

“You are the salt of the earth” Matt. 5:13. “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” Col. 4:5-6. “You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, Isa. 43:10.

C. IDEA & TITLE

1. “How do you behave with and toward unbelievers? Do you like them? Do you hate them? Do you tolerate them? Are you concerned about their salvation? Do you act like them when you aren’t in Christian company? Do you snub them if they aren’t holy?

2. Some Christians think that being kind to unbelievers is like throwing pearls before swine. Then there are Christians who stand on street corners, in malls, and in front of abortion clinics to witness to unbelievers. Others just don’t care one way or another. Where do you fit in?

3. Do you share your faith using hugs or headlocks? Honey or a hammer? Or do you even share your faith at all?

4. We’re looking tonight at the subject, “The Right Amount of Salt, Please!”

I. BE WISE TOWARD UNBELIEVERS Col. 4:5

A. ARE YOU AN INSIDER OR OUTSIDER?

1. In dealing with this passage, this is the first issue. Paul talks about “outsiders” to our faith. The question is, are WE insiders? It’s the Cross of Jesus that makes being a Christian possible. If we haven’t repented of our sins and believed on Jesus as our Savior, we’re still on the outside ourselves!

2. We have to be cleansed from our sins and receive the grace of God in Christ before we can demonstrate that grace to others. Because God has been gracious to us, we can be gracious to others.

3. JOKE.

a. We don’t want to be like the stressed-out driver the policeman pulled over, got out his car, and handcuffed and put in the backseat of the patrol car.

b. After almost thirty minutes, the officer let the man out and released him.

c. He said, “I’m sorry for this mistake. I pulled up behind your car while you were blowing your horn, flipping off the lady in front of you and cussing a blue streak at her. I noticed the ‘Choose Life’ license plate holder, the ‘What Would Jesus Do?’ bumper sticker, and the chrome-plated Fish emblem on the trunk. So naturally, I assumed you had stolen the car.”

B. DIFFICULT BECAUSE UNBELIEVERS OFTEN DON’T LIKE CHRISTIANS

1. In our culture there is an attack on Christians, We are called bigots because we condemn homosexuality, oppose abortion, and condemn sin, and insist our Faith is the only correct one.

2. So it’s not always an easy thing to interact with unbelievers. NEGATIVELY, we should...

a. Not to be influenced by them, or to participate in their evil, or to begin to think like them or laugh at their dirty jokes. Not to adopt their crude behavior.

b. Secondly, we should be careful not to inflame their prejudices against Christianity, or give them an occasion of dislike Christians.

3. POSITIVELY. Instead, we’re to do them all the good we can, and by all means attempt to make Christianity attractive to them. Paul told Titus to promote among the Christians on Crete, “...that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive” (Titus 2:10).

4. Since Christians are portrayed negatively in the media, we should be careful to be sympathetic, compassionate and humble, loving, patient. When they curse us, we’re supposed to bless them, like Jesus did.

5. The reputation of the gospel depends on you. The world judges Christianity by what it sees in you. Paul told Philemon, “And I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective...(1:6) ESV.”

II. MAKE THE MOST OF EVERY OPPORTUNITY

A. SEIZE THE DAY!

1. “Redeeming the time.” The sense of what Paul’s saying is “Don’t just sit there and wait for the opportunity (to do good to someone) to fall into your lap, but go after it.” I would hope that as Christians we don’t become complacent about evangelism. God uses the Gospel to save people from Hell to Heaven. If we don’t witness, they won’t be saved.