Having Speech That is Full of Grace and Seasoned With Salt
We all know that when you are preparing food, many things require seasoning with salt in order for it to taste good. Did you also know that the Bible says in Colossians 4:6 to “Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.”? (KJV)
How can we apply seasoning with salt to our words?
I’m sure you remember the old childhood rhyme that chimes, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me”. That is certainly not true!
Words can hurt! We’ve all been a victim of hurtful words, and sadly, we’ve probably also been the one speaking those hurtful words at times.
Let’s read some of the lessons God has given us through scripture on this topic. Let’s start with some warnings of an untamed tongue.
Reading from James 3:5 & 6. The scripture says, “Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature, and it is set on fire of hell”. (KJV)
Then in the same chapter, in verse 10 we read “Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.”
Again, in James 1:26, the Bible says, “If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.” (KJV)
These scriptures teach us that even though the tongue is a very small member of our bodies, it can do much harm and we should guard our speech as not to speak evil things (cursing) from our mouths! In James 3:10, the Bible is specifically speaking of having hypocritical speech, speaking blessing and cursing from the same mouth. This would be a terrible thing for a Christian to do!
Imagine liberally squeezing out toothpaste from a tube of toothpaste and then trying to put it back into the tube! Use this same idea with our words coming out of our mouths. Once the words are out, they cannot be put back in! We should be so careful with what we let come out of our mouths!
We’ve read the warnings of an untamed tongue. Now, let’s read some scriptures on how to practice having speech that is seasoned with salt and full of grace.
In Proverbs 15:1 & 2 we read, “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.” (KJV)
Also, in Proverbs 21: 23, scripture reads, “Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.” (KJV)
Then, in Ephesians 4:29, “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” (KJV)
Lastly, Proverbs 25:11, “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.” (KJV)
As Christian women, we should always seek to speak good and not evil, uplifting and not discouraging words to anyone around us. We should always practice to do unto others as we would have them do unto us. “And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.” Luke 6:31 (KJV)
So, as we are going about our day to day lives, may we remember to “season our words with salt” and let our speech be always pleasing to our Heavenly Father.
Kitty Hackney
http://ahappyheart3.blogspot.com/