Living Wisely in a World at Odds with Christ (Colossians 4:2–6)

Life Between Two Worlds

The Christian life is lived in tension. On one hand, Scripture tells us that our life is “hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3). On the other, we remain here on earth, surrounded by people and systems that often oppose Him. We belong to another kingdom, yet we still labor, suffer, and pray in this present one. That tension—between belonging to Christ and still living among those who do not—forms the heart of Paul’s instruction in Colossians 4:2–6.

“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, on account of which I am in prison—
that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.
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

Paul’s words teach us that the Christian’s calling in this age requires both dependence on God through prayer and wise conduct before the watching world. These verses provide, in essence, the believer’s “field manual” for living wisely in a fallen world.

The Taste of a Christian Life: Paul’s Picture of Seasoned Speech

To begin, Paul uses a vivid image: “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt.” It’s an image anyone can understand. In cooking, seasoning defines a dish—it enhances what is good, masks what is unpleasant, and preserves what is valuable. Too much cayenne and the dish burns the tongue; too much sugar and it becomes cloying. The right seasoning determines the outcome.

So it is with our words. Speech that is “seasoned with salt” carries the right tone, the right measure of grace, and the right aim for each moment. Just as seasoning controls the flavor of food, our words can influence how others “taste” the gospel—either drawing them toward Christ or turning them away.

But how can we consistently speak with that kind of wisdom? Paul’s answer is found in the two commands that frame this passage: “Continue steadfastly in prayer” and “Walk in wisdom toward outsiders.” Together, these describe both our need and Christ’s provision.

The Problem: Living as Pilgrims and Strangers

Before offering the solution, Paul first acknowledges the problem. We are pilgrims and exiles in a world that does not understand us. Like Abraham, who left his homeland to follow God’s call, we live as strangers seeking a better country (Hebrews 11:13–16). Our accents, habits, and values may still sound like the culture around us, but inwardly we are citizens of another kingdom.

This tension creates two difficulties:

1. We face opposition from the world.
   Paul himself wrote from prison “on account of the mystery of Christ.” The same world that celebrated his Roman citizenship despised his gospel. If even Paul found himself rejected, we should not be surprised when faithfulness to Christ invites hostility or mockery.
2. We face weakness within ourselves.
   The greatest challenge is not merely outside of us but inside. Though we have been raised with Christ, sin still clings to our hearts. We must daily “put to death” what remains of the old nature and “put on the new self.” Thus, we are beset by enemies both external and internal—the unbelieving world without, and indwelling sin within.

That dual struggle leaves every believer feeling stretched—pulled, as it were, like a loaf torn between two hands. We know what is right, yet we struggle to do it. We long for heaven, yet remain on earth. The question, then, is how we can live wisely amid such tension.

The Need for Both Law and Wisdom

Part of the Christian struggle arises from confusion between law and wisdom. God’s law tells us what is right—“Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Love your neighbor.” But wisdom teaches us how to apply those truths in situations the law does not directly name.

For instance, Scripture forbids murder, but does it forbid texting while driving? The principle of love and care for life surely applies, yet the exact application requires discernment. The Christian life therefore demands more than simple rule-following; it calls for Spirit-given wisdom.

Paul’s concern in this passage is that we learn to walk with that kind of spiritual awareness—to have what he calls in verse 2 a “watchful” heart, alert to our surroundings and sensitive to the Lord’s will. We need situational awareness: the ability to see through the world’s distractions and to recognize the spiritual realities beneath them.

The Solution: Christ Our Wisdom and Help

Having diagnosed the problem, Paul turns to the solution—Christ Himself. The wisdom we lack, He supplies. The strength we need, He provides. Through His Spirit, He equips us to live faithfully until the day when faith becomes sight.

Paul outlines two ways this divine help reaches us:

1. Through persistent, watchful prayer.
2. Through wise, gracious living before the world.

These two disciplines—prayer and conduct—are the twin expressions of a life rooted in Christ.

1. Continue Steadfastly in Prayer

Paul’s first command is clear: “Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.”

Prayer is not a casual suggestion for the believer—it is the lifeline of faith. Through prayer, we confess that we are dependent creatures and that Christ alone supplies what we need. Without the Spirit’s help, we cannot receive the blessings Christ purchased for us.

Paul points to three qualities that mark this kind of prayer: alertness, thanksgiving, and intercession.

a. Be Watchful in Prayer

To be “watchful” means to stay spiritually awake. A watchman stands on the city wall through the night, scanning the horizon for danger. In the same way, the Christian keeps vigil through prayer, alert to temptation and attentive to the Lord’s purposes.

The opposite of watchfulness is spiritual sleepiness—a complacency that assumes life will go on unchanged. But the believer knows that this age is filled with unseen dangers and spiritual warfare. Prayer, then, is our post on the wall. It keeps us alert to the schemes of the enemy and aware of the Lord’s movements in our lives.

Paul’s word here recalls Jesus’ command to the disciples in Gethsemane: “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation.” We are to do the same—maintaining a posture of readiness, always turning our hearts toward God.

b. Be Thankful in Prayer

Next, Paul calls us to pray “with thanksgiving.” Gratitude transforms the posture of our prayers. It reminds us that Christ has already secured every spiritual blessing for us. We do not pray in despair but in hope.

The thankful believer remembers past mercies as he pleads for new ones. Thanksgiving guards us from complaint, fuels endurance, and reminds us that God’s promises are sure. Even our petitions are to be offered with gratitude for what He has already accomplished through Christ.

The Psalms model this pattern beautifully—lament mingled with praise, supplication flowing into thanksgiving. In every season, gratitude steadies the soul and keeps prayer from shrinking into self-focus.

c. Pray for the Gospel to Advance

Finally, Paul adds a specific request: “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… that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.”

Here we see the heartbeat of every faithful servant of Christ—the desire for the gospel to go forward. Even as Paul sits in chains, his concern is not his own comfort but the clarity of his message.

He knows that unless God opens a door, no human effort can. The “mystery of Christ”—the once-hidden plan of salvation now revealed in the gospel—requires divine power to be proclaimed effectively.

And Paul’s humility here is striking. If the great apostle, personally commissioned by the risen Christ, asks for prayer that he might “make it clear,” how much more do we need that same help?

To pray for gospel workers, missionaries, pastors, and teachers is to join in the work itself. Prayer is not a substitute for evangelism—it is its engine. Every open door, every receptive heart, every clear word of witness is an answer to prayer.

2. Walk in Wisdom Toward Outsiders

The second command in this passage flows naturally from the first: “Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.”

Prayer without godly living lacks credibility; godly living without prayer lacks power. The two belong together. The believer who communes with God in private must also display Christ’s wisdom in public.

To “walk in wisdom” means to live in a way that reflects the gospel before those who do not yet believe. It is a call to discernment, grace, and intentionality in every relationship.

a. Making the Best Use of the Time

Time is one of God’s most precious gifts—and one of the easiest to waste. Paul reminds us that every believer lives under the ticking clock of eternity. We have only a limited number of hours, days, and years to serve Christ in this world.

To “make the best use of the time” means to treat each moment as an opportunity for obedience and witness. We are stewards, not owners, of our time. The wise believer asks not simply, “Is this permissible?” but “Is this profitable for the kingdom?”

This also means recognizing the era in which we live. Every generation faces unique challenges. The Christian of the 1800s did not wrestle with “texting and driving,” but we do. Wisdom requires understanding our moment and applying eternal truths to contemporary circumstances.

The aim is not to retreat from the world but to live faithfully within it—redeeming the time by showing forth the grace of Christ wherever He has placed us.

b. Speech Seasoned with Salt

Finally, Paul addresses our words: “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.”

Speech reveals the heart. A Christian’s words should carry both grace and truth—never corrosive, never dull, but alive with spiritual flavor. The “salt” of the gospel adds both preservation and appeal. It keeps conversation from decay and awakens spiritual appetite in the listener.

This does not mean flattery or compromise. It means speaking appropriately to each situation: rebuke when needed, comfort when warranted, gospel clarity when the door opens. Just as a skilled cook knows when to add sweetness or spice, the wise believer learns by the Spirit’s help how to speak fittingly in each moment.

If we are speaking to unbelievers, our words should aim at Christ—clear, compassionate, and direct. If to fellow believers, our words should edify and strengthen. And in every case, we remember that we are stewards of language meant to honor the Lord.

Christ Supplies All That We Need

Behind all these commands lies one great assurance: Christ Himself supplies what He requires.

Paul reminds us earlier in Colossians 2:6–7, “As you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him, established in the faith… abounding in thanksgiving.” The Christian’s ability to walk wisely comes not from his own strength but from union with Christ.

We are rooted in Him, nourished by Him, and growing toward His likeness. Every act of obedience is sustained by His grace. Even our prayers are enabled by His Spirit, who intercedes for us when we do not know how to pray as we ought.

Christ has not left His people to navigate this world alone. He has given His Word for instruction, His Spirit for wisdom, and His intercession for our perseverance.

Conformed to the Image of Christ

The longer we walk with the Lord, the more we find this to be true: Christ not only saves us—He shapes us. Paul says in Colossians 3:10, “You have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.”

Our sanctification is a gradual but certain process of being conformed to the likeness of Christ. As we grow in Him, our thinking, our desires, and our conduct increasingly reflect His character. The same Spirit who raised Christ from the dead is at work renewing our hearts, guiding our speech, and producing in us the fruit of wisdom.

This transformation does not happen in ease or comfort. It often comes through the very tensions we’ve considered—through trials, uncertainty, and moments of not knowing what to do. In those seasons, the Lord draws us nearer to Himself and deepens our dependence on Him. The pressure of living as strangers in a foreign land becomes the very means by which He matures our faith.

Paul’s picture is tender and pastoral: as a body is nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, so the church grows “with a growth that is from God” (Colossians 2:19). Every member depends upon the Head, and every act of obedience flows from His life within us.

Our Heavenly Citizenship

Because of this union with Christ, our true home is no longer here. We are citizens of heaven, pilgrims on the way to Zion. That is why Paul says, “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:2–3).

Our affections, our priorities, and our hopes are all meant to be fixed where Christ is. The more our hearts are set there, the less power the world’s allurements will hold over us.

The patriarch Abraham illustrates this beautifully. Hebrews 11 tells us that Abraham left his homeland “not knowing where he was going.” He lived in tents his whole life, a wanderer in a land of promise, because “he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.”

Abraham could have returned to the comforts of home, but he didn’t. Why? Because his faith was set on a better country—a heavenly one. And because of that faith, Scripture says, “God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared for them a city” (Hebrews 11:16).

That same promise belongs to us. We too live as strangers and exiles, longing for the city whose gates will never close and whose light is the Lamb Himself. Until then, we walk by faith, trusting that every difficulty, every act of obedience, and every quiet prayer is leading us toward that final rest.

Persevering Until the End

Paul’s words in Colossians 4 remind us that the Christian life is not static—it is a journey of perseverance. We are to continue steadfastly in prayer and to walk in wisdom as long as the Lord gives us breath.

The temptation to grow weary is real. Life in this fallen world can be exhausting. We encounter misunderstanding, conflict, and sometimes outright persecution. Yet Paul reminds us that Christ has not left His people without resources.

When we are weak, we look to Him who never tires. When we are uncertain, we look to Him who is wisdom itself. When we are discouraged, we remember that our Savior has already overcome the world.

And so the call remains: do not grow weary in doing good. The same Christ who calls us to faithfulness supplies the strength to endure. He has promised to complete the good work He began in us.

Our present difficulties—though real and painful—are temporary. They are light and momentary compared with the eternal weight of glory that awaits those who are in Christ. The small inconveniences and sorrows of this life are but stepping-stones toward the joy of seeing our Savior face to face.

Living with a Heavenly Mindset

To be “heavenly minded” does not mean to withdraw from earthly responsibilities. Rather, it means viewing every moment of this earthly life through the lens of eternity.

A heavenly-minded Christian prays for open doors for the gospel. He speaks words seasoned with grace. He lives wisely among outsiders—not to impress them, but to show them the beauty of Christ.

This perspective transforms the ordinary. Work becomes worship. Conversation becomes opportunity. Even suffering becomes service, as we bear witness to the hope that is within us.

And this heavenly mindset is not only for our own peace of heart—it is for the good of others. When our eyes are fixed on Christ and our hope anchored in His promises, our lives point others to the same Redeemer.

Christ: The Solution to Every Problem

All of this brings us back to Paul’s central message: the problems of this present life find their solution in Christ.

He is our wisdom when we are confused.
He is our strength when we are weak.
He is our courage when we face opposition.
He is our righteousness when we fall short.

The entire letter to the Colossians has been proclaiming this truth—that in Christ, believers “have been filled,” and in Him “are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” Everything we need for life and godliness is found in Him.

Therefore, when we encounter tension between faith and culture, or struggle between the old nature and the new, we need not despair. Christ is sufficient. His Spirit equips us to live wisely, to pray faithfully, and to speak graciously until the day He returns.

Conclusion: Look to Christ

Paul ends this portion of his letter much as he began—with a call to look to Christ. Our life is found in Him, our future is secure in Him, and our hope rests upon His unchanging promise.

We are pilgrims now, but not forever. The day will come when faith will give way to sight, when every tear will be wiped away, and when sin and death will be no more. Until that day, we live in hope—steadfast in prayer, wise in our conduct, gracious in our speech, and confident in the Savior who is our life.

“When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”
— Colossians 3:4

Look to Him. Rely on Him. Walk in wisdom toward those who are still far off, praying that the Lord would open doors for the gospel. For the same Christ who once opened your heart to believe is still at work opening hearts today.

Until He comes, may our words be gracious, our prayers unceasing, and our lives seasoned with the salt of His grace.

Amen.