Paul calls us to walk with wisdom towards outsiders (Col 4.5). So what does this look like? I would suggest it means three things.
First, walking in wisdom means being on our guard against 3 things.
One, being on guard against being polluted by the world, because bad company corrupts good morals, 1Cor 15.33. When we mix with outsiders we learn to talk, walk, and think like outsiders. This is why God commanded Israel to tear down the altars of the Canaanites–lest they copy their ways, Ps 106.35. Blessed is the man who, says the psalmist, who’s not influenced by the world around him, Ps 1.1-2.
Two, being on guard against being deceived by the world. We learn in the vision of the Great Harlot in Rev 17 that the world is very attractive and seductive. Its arguments sound good, its pleasures look harmless, and its values seem really important. But it’s a deceiver and those who imbibe its wisdom become utter fools, Prov 1.7. Blessed is the man who’s not deceived by the world’s wisdom, Gal 6.6-7.
Three, being on guard against being ensnared by the world’s devil. Paul says we have no reason to be outwitted by the devil, because we’re not ignorant of his designs, 2Cor 2.11. We know from the way he treated our Lord and from the way he ensnared so many in Scripture that the world is his primary tool of seduction and primary trap for ensnaring. Blessed is the man who walks as one who knows he’s in a dangerous place, who knows he’s in enemy territory, who knows the devil never slumbers and never gives up, 1Pet 5.8-10.
Secondly, walking in wisdom means being a witness in 3 ways.
One, by speaking the truth in love, Eph 4.15. There are times when the witness of our lives needs to be joined by the witness of our words. And when that’s the case we’re to speak unashamedly of the truth of Christ; we’re to speak humbly as a recipient of the grace of Christ; and we’re to speak in love as one sinner to another, showing them the compassion, tenderness, and patience which Christ showed us, Pr 25.11. Speaking the truth in love to a soul prepared by the Spirit is often the means of bringing them into the Kingdom.
Two, by standing up for the truth with courage. There’ll be times when the cause of Christ will cost us dear–maybe at work, maybe on the playing field, maybe at school, maybe in our own family. And when that’s the case we’re to stand up for the truth of Christ with the boldness and courage of one who knows that we stand for the Lord’s cause, that we stand by the strength of the Lord, and that we stand in honor of the Lord. He told us in Heb 13.5 that He’d never leave us nor forsake us; and He told us in Ps 27.5 that He’d hide us in His shelter in the day of trouble; and His words to Joshua in 1.9 are a promise to us as much as it was to him: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Standing up for the truth of Christ with courage before a soul being drawn by the grace of God is often the means of bringing them all the way to Christ.
Three, by praying for the lost. At the end of the day, it’s not by our wisdom or by our words or by our courage that a soul is won to Christ. It’s by the power and grace of God Almighty, in whose hands all souls are like clay. We know that God uses our walk and our witness to bring the lost to Himself, but our faith needs to rest in Him alone and not in anything we do. And so to our words and our stance we must add the benefit of our prayers, praying for our lost loved ones, for our unconverted co-workers and neighbors, and for all in our circles who stand outside of Christ, because none can bring them in but God Himself, by His Holy Spirit. Praying for the lost, especially when it’s backed by the testimony of our speech and life, does more to redeem the lost than we can know this side of eternity.
And thirdly, walking in wisdom means redeeming the time. The idea is that opportunities to influence others for Christ don’t come by every day. And so Paul’s telling us that when the opportunity presents itself, we’re to jump on it; we’re to seize the moment and live by a now or never principle. We need to pay attention to those around us and look for evidence that God’s softening their hearts, opening their ears, and stirring their conscience. And when we see the Lord at work, we’re to join the battle and do everything in our power–by our words, our lives, and our prayers to win that soul over for Christ–remembering that while the work of saving is the Lord’s alone, we are the witnesses and instruments in His hands.
So ask yourself these questions: how does my life at work influence my co-workers for Jesus? How does my life at home influence my family for Jesus? How does my life in my neighborhood influence my neighbors for Jesus? How does my life as a Christian influence the people who cross my path for Jesus? Am I the light and salt of the piece of the world in which I live?
Who’s been spiritually bettered by your walk? Are walking in wisdom towards outsiders? Or is your life just like everyone else’s, just another face in the crowd, just another person doing his own thing–doing nothing to make an impact for Jesus Christ in his circle of influence?
