Colossians 4:6 Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man. I. THE LARGE SPACE WHICH WORDS OCCUPY IN HUMAN LIFE. 1. On account of their number. Great part of human life is passed in talking. How many millions of words are uttered in the course of a long human life. 2. On account of their consequences. There are many things which are very easy to do, but the effects of which will last for ages. It is easy to sow an acorn, it is soon done; but the growth of the acorn is not soon done; it becomes an oak, which will defy the tempests of a thousand years. The conflagration of Chicago was very soon done. II. THE IMPORTANCE OF SPECIAL SELF-EXAMINATION IN REFERENCE TO OUR WORDS. III. EARNEST LISTENING TO THE DIVINE VOICES, THE CURE FOR VAIN SPEECH AND THE SOURCE OF GRACIOUS SPEECH. 1. The cure for vain speech. St. James says, "Be ye swift to hear, slow to speak." 2. The source of gracious speech. IV. OUR WORDS ARE NOT TO BE ALL ABOUT RELIGION, BUT TO BE PERVADED BY THE SPIRIT OF RELIGION. V. OUR CONVERSATION BEING THUS SEASONED, WE SHALL KNOW HOW WE OUGHT TO ANSWER EVERY MAN. (R. Abercrombie, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man. |
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