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“Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the Word, to declare the mystery of Christ…Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” Colossians 4:2–6
No one likes bland on Thanksgiving; whether it’s the turkey or the mashed potatoes, the stuffing or the pumpkin pie, we all want the food properly seasoned and turned into the special and delicious meal we know and love. After all, we don’t do a meal like this but once a year. But what about our faith life? Are there moments where we are okay with it being bland? Losing its flavor, or even just becoming the norm that exists in the background for busy people in the midst of busy lives?
Paul's words in Colossians 4:2–6 remind us to not allow our faith to become bland, callous, or uncaring; in one sense, he is encouraging us to approach our spiritual life and our day-to-day life with the same intentionality as we do our Thanksgiving meal.
In some ways, "Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving...walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt" is an extension of the reminder Jesus gives the disciples in Matthew 5: “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything."
The metaphor of salt suggests several things. First, salt enhances the natural flavors of food, making it more enjoyable. In the same way, our words and actions should be enhanced by the good news of the Gospel and therefore enhance the lives of those around us; they should be well seasoned with that spiritual “salt.”
Secondly, salt preserves. In ancient times, it was a crucial element in keeping food from spoiling. Our faith, too, should be a preservative in a world that can sometimes feel empty and decayed. Living out the “saltiness” of our faith also preserves our hope and resolve in the faith. Likewise, when we live out our faith with genuine authenticity, we act as preservatives, helping to sustain and revive the spiritual well-being of those we encounter.
Finally, the back half of Jesus' statement in Matthew 5 also rings true. The result of “unsalty” faith often points back to ourselves — and away from Christ.
This Thanksgiving, let our lives be filled with salt, not only at our dinner tables but also in our hearts of faith. As we gather around our Thanksgiving tables, let it be a reminder to also gather around the table of our faith. Let us pray that God would give us opportunities to pass the “salt” with friends and family whom the Holy Spirit has brought into our lives through the work of Christ Jesus, our Lord.
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