“Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”
The book of James speaks of the power of words. It warns that the tongue “corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.” That’s a strong statement and most of us can attest to its accuracy.
Many have experienced the wildfires an unbridled tongue can produce and know the difficulty of extinguishing those fires once they are lit. So, in this verse, when God instructs us on how to use our words, we should listen.
Is my conversation full of grace and seasoned with salt? Do I even know what that means? I think it means my speech must be kind and gracious… full of compassion. But it also must have some preserving power… there must be substance and truth to it.
We often swing too much one way or the other…either only sweet, flattering words, or only words of corrective discipline…. This verse says I must have balance in order to know how to answer everyone in every situation.
The assumption this verse makes is that we control our mouth. That is a big assumption… Do you control yours, or does it control you? Do you emotionally react with unbridled words, or intelligently respond with beneficial comments?
Scripture says we should be quick to listen and slow to speak. Most of us get that exactly backwards. I shouldn’t speak unless I have something valuable to say, and when I do speak, it should be balanced with compassion and truth. Since that is not always appreciated, my motivation must be to benefit others, not myself.
How are you doing in this area? What would people think if today your discussions were “full of grace”, and “seasoned with salt”? Would it shock them? Would they think something was wrong with you? Or is it normal for your conversations to be full of wisdom, and sound advice?
Speak with purpose today… Monitor your tongue and aim your words carefully. Have the right balance of sweet and salty so people will benefit from what you have to say.
“The test of a man's spirituality is not his ability to speak, as we are apt to think, but rather his ability to bridle his tongue.” - R. Kent Hughes
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