Walk In Wisdom Toward Them

“Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.” (Colossians 4:5)

A true and abiding Christian will have spirit knowledge and head knowledge of Jesus Christ and His word. But the wisdom spoken of here by Paul goes beyond that. This wisdom also includes a general knowledge of nature, science, people and overall life itself. And we are to take this wisdom to those outside of our Christian sphere. We are to be well versed ambassadors of/for Christ, aware of the world and the people around us.

But notice Paul adds a qualifier of, “redeeming the time”. This is to make good use of the time we have with those from without. And how would we do that? It’s by going where we are wanted and going where we are needed with this ability to understand and associate with those with whom we come in contact. How can we as Christians relate to others and adequately convey Christ if we are social misfits and ignorant of nature, science, and people?

Paul phrased it this way:

“For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you. (1 Corinthians 9:19-23)

“I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.”

You can be very “holy” and a tremendous theologian, but if you are not well versed in basic matters dealing with life, and are unable to associate or connect with those from without, then you will be unable to share the very thing you ought to share, which is Jesus Christ! What good is the Christian if he is a social misfit? What good is the Christian if he is dysfunctional outside of his Christian sphere of influence? This is a sin. It runs counter to the command of Jesus.

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28:19-20)

Jesus said, “Go Ye”! Where to? “ALL nations”! How? “In Wisdom”!

For those that are in Christ, “there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free” (Colossians 3:11). The walls of race, creed, color, gender, national origin, religion, etc., all of those walls come crumbling down when you are in Christ. But now that those barriers are gone and God has opened, “a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ” (Colossians 4:3), will you be able to relate to those outside of your Christian sphere? Can you communicate and associate with folks not like yourself? Do you have at a basic understanding of the world and how it operates? Jesus didn’t walk the earth as some holier than thou, unrelatable, God, He walked the earth as a common man, able to speak and relate to beggar, lame, sick, rich, poor, foreigner, local, black, white, brown, politician, military, business owner, shepherd, drunkard, thief, man, woman and child. Can you?

“I am made all things to all men” Are you?

It is very important to understand that to “Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time” does NOT mean that we have to become like those from “without”. The wisdom and ability to relate to almost everyone does not mean coming under their influence and being persuaded to sin. This is, however, a danger to be aware of! Prudence and care must be exercised at all times that you do not sin! That’s why Jesus said, “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.” (Matthew 10:16)

The serpent was a symbol of wisdom. “Wise” means prudent. “Harmless” is a reference to being “unmixed”, “undiluted” or “pure”.

With that said, walking “without” in wisdom and associating with a broad range of folks will be a very big positive.  “For they who have wisdom will profit by the experience of others” (Charles Spurgeon).

Jesus knows where He is sending us. But if we are in Christ and Christ is in us and walk in wisdom, we too will be able to, “save some”.

Bill Hitchcock