The Right Answer

Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

Colossians 4:6

How many times after a conversation with someone have you thought I wish I had said…? Sometimes I wish I had said more words of encouragement or more words of wisdom; but, I have to admit, many times I wish I had said some cutting remark to that person who offended me. In reality I am thankful that God stopped my brain and my mouth, for inevitably words spoken in a heated moment are regretted.

I suppose we all know someone who easily ‘ruffles our feathers’—a person who irritates or agitates us. It is easy to speak unkind words to those people. Obviously, David had someone like that in his life, for he said I will put a muzzle on my mouth as long as the wicked are in my presence (Psalm 39:1). This verse makes me smile and wish I had a muzzle for myself. Of course, David used a figure of speech to emphasize he was determined to remain silent before his enemy. It is good to be able to remain silent before our enemies, but it is also good to know the right answer to speak at just the right time.

According to Colossians 4:6, the right answer comes from speech that is full of grace and seasoned with salt. When did I last speak favorable words about or to a person that did not deserve kind words? Am I slow to speak or am I quick to respond in anger? How consistently do I speak salty words—words that preserve someone’s dignity or reputation, words that edify instead of destroy, words that transform, etc.

The heart of the righteous weighs its answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil (Proverbs 15:28). A man of knowledge uses words with restraint…(Proverbs 17:27). The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks what is just (Psalm 37:30).

Lord, my prayer today is the prayer of David: “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer” (Psalm 19:14).

Jan Burkhart