5 Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. (Colossians 4:5 (ESV)
The Apostle Paul continued in his exhortations to the Colossian church. Today’s text addresses the believer’s daily behavior and daily speech.
To walk (περιπατεῖτε; peripateite) refers in this context to living and behaving morally and ethically. It is a present, active, imperative, plural verb. This means the believers’ behavior and lifestyle involves a continual, active, collective obedience in moral living. This behavior does not make an individual a believer in Christ, but rather evidences one’s faith in Christ as Savior and Lord (Eph. 2:10). This command applies to all believers in Christ.
How are believers to walk? The Bible says “in wisdom.” Wisdom (σοφίᾳ; sophia) is the practical application of God’s Word or truth. Wisdom is the capacity to understand God’s truth and to live accordingly in response to God’s truth.
The cultural context of wise walking by the believer pertains to our relationships with non-believers. The word “outsiders” (ἔξω; exo) refers in the context to the unconverted. Like it or not, unbelievers observe the believer’s behavior: the good and the bad.
“Mahatma Gandhi, the leader who helped secure India’s independence from the British in the twentieth century, was once asked why he would not convert to Christianity, even though he professed admiration for Jesus. His answer was, “I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ,” explains one commentator.
The writer continues by saying, “It is easy to ignore Gandhi’s words because he had a deficient view of Christ — often, it seems, he saw Jesus only as a nonviolent social reformer. It is also easy to say non-Christians should not judge Jesus’ claims about Himself based on His followers’ deeds — though this observation is not without merit. Yet like it or not, unbelievers often base their views of Christianity on the behavior of Jesus’ professed followers (at the very least, they use our hypocrisy to justify their rebellion against the Creator).”
Walking in wisdom involves a keen awareness of each moment of each and every day. Believers in Christ must be aware of their surroundings and situations. Today’s text says, “making the best use of the time.” The phrase “making the best use” (ἐξαγοραζόμενοι; exagorazomenoi) means to make good use of every opportunity. Time (καιρὸν; kairon) echoes this meaning. In other words, every believer in Christ is to make good use of every opportunity to share the gospel to those without Christ.
Dr. William Hendriksen writes, “To the Jew every non-Jew was an “outsider.” And to the Christian every non-Christian is, in a sense, an outsider.” (See 1 Cor. 5:12, 13; 1 Thess. 4:12; 1 Tim. 3:7.) “In the days of the early church believers were often slandered by these outsiders. For example, they were called atheists because they served no visible gods, unpatriotic because they did not burn incense before the image of the emperor, and immoral because, of necessity, they would often meet behind locked doors. The apostle knew that the best way to defeat this slander was for Christians daily to conduct themselves not only virtuously instead of wickedly but also wisely instead of foolishly.”
Therefore, believers must strive to obediently walk in wisdom towards those without Christ. Our moral and ethical behavior must be above reproach (Phil. 3:17; 2 Thess. 3:9; Heb. 13:7; I Peter 5:3). However, when we fail, and we will, we must be honest about our failures, sincere in our repentance, and humble in our request for forgiveness and understanding.
“Paul and the other apostles would have us hear what non-Christians like Gandhi are saying when they note how we fall short of the character of Christ. The problem is not really that we fail to meet Jesus’ standards, although we must strive to do what He says. None of us will ever perfectly follow Him, and the world should not, on its own, expect as much (1 John 1:8–9). The problem is that often we do not admit our own failures to follow Jesus or do not confess that we often preach the gospel in a manner that invites the world to expect an instant transformation of sinners into flawless saints,”explains Dr. R. C. Sproul.
May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here. Have a blessed day in the Lord.
Soli deo Gloria!
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