The importance of seasonable speech.
"Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how to answer each one." The conversation of believers is to have reference to "those without" as well as their personal behaviour.
I. THE NATURE OF SEASONABLE SPEECH.
1. It is to be "always with grace."
2. It is to consist of gracious words.
(a) seasonable (Proverbs 15:23),
(b) wholesome (Ephesians 4:29),
(c) kindly (Proverbs 31:26),
(d) hopeful
3. The conversation of believers is to be uniformly with grace. The precept is always in force. Much depends upon the continuity of a gracious habit of talk. It is to be exercised in all places, at all times, yet with due regard to what is seasonable or timely.
4. It is to be seasoned with salt. It is not to be insipid and without point, so as to be incapable of edifying man's spirit. It must have penetrative force, either for the purpose of directing the inquirer or answering the scoffer. "The tongue of the wise is as choice silver;" "The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips" (Proverbs 10:20; Proverbs 16:23). Our Lord said," Every one must be salted with fire, every sacrifice must be salted with salt" (Mark 9:49). The person is salted first; the salt is found in his words and deeds afterwards.
II. THE END OF SEASONABLE SPEECH. "That ye may know how to answer each one." This implies:
1. That the truth will be spoken against.
2. That believers are to learn how to give a right answer to objectors. We are to "give a reason of the hope that is in us with meekness and fear" (1 Peter 3:15). It must be done