Bargain Hunters
By Elin Henderson
“Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.”
Colossians 4:5 (NKJV)
By Elin Henderson
“Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.”
Colossians 4:5 (NKJV)
Okay, which one of us doesn’t love to go bargain hunting? Nothing is greater than finding the item on your list at a fraction of the cost!! But, it takes skill, doesn’t it? You have to have the time and eye to find the good deals hidden on those clearance racks and beyond. But, when you discover it, you do your little victory dance in the store and maybe again when you get home!
“Redeeming the time” here in Colossians really means “buying up the opportunity.” (1) Just like we can know a good deal when we see one at the store and we seize that opportunity, we also need to be alert for opportunities to share our faith with the world around us. But, this requires a lot of wisdom, doesn’t it? A “walk of wisdom” just as Paul says here in Colossians 4:5. It is through both our walk and our talk that we can point people to the Lord. When the one doesn’t match up with the other, then the testimony is often ineffective.
We must be alert not only to how we are living, but also actively looking for opportunities in word and deed to share the Lord with others. I think we often fall into one ditch or the other: Either we are so wrapped up in our own spiritual walk and how we are doing that we fail to see a needy world around us…so heavenly minded we are no earthly good. Or, we are constantly looking for opportunities to share the gospel, but heedless to our own walk with the Lord!
Here’s the plan: Let’s apply our bargain hunter skills to a new list, a list of souls! Walk in wisdom and seize the opportunities available to you today, then do a victory dance for Him when the lives of people are changed around you!
GOING DEEPER:
1. Where can you see the Lord opening doors of opportunity to share His love and who He is with the world around you? Are you seizing those?
2. Are you walking in wisdom so that both your words and deeds are in line with His ways?
FURTHER READING:
James 1:5; Revelation 1:3
(1) Weirsbe, Warren W, The Bible Exposition Commentary: Volume 2, Cook Communications, Colorado Springs, CO, 2001, p. 148.
Oakwood’s missionaries Elin Henderson and her husband Phil serve as church planters with New Tribes in Mozambique, Africa. Elin is mother to ten-year-old Callie and seven-year-old Elias.
“Redeeming the time” here in Colossians really means “buying up the opportunity.” (1) Just like we can know a good deal when we see one at the store and we seize that opportunity, we also need to be alert for opportunities to share our faith with the world around us. But, this requires a lot of wisdom, doesn’t it? A “walk of wisdom” just as Paul says here in Colossians 4:5. It is through both our walk and our talk that we can point people to the Lord. When the one doesn’t match up with the other, then the testimony is often ineffective.
We must be alert not only to how we are living, but also actively looking for opportunities in word and deed to share the Lord with others. I think we often fall into one ditch or the other: Either we are so wrapped up in our own spiritual walk and how we are doing that we fail to see a needy world around us…so heavenly minded we are no earthly good. Or, we are constantly looking for opportunities to share the gospel, but heedless to our own walk with the Lord!
Here’s the plan: Let’s apply our bargain hunter skills to a new list, a list of souls! Walk in wisdom and seize the opportunities available to you today, then do a victory dance for Him when the lives of people are changed around you!
GOING DEEPER:
1. Where can you see the Lord opening doors of opportunity to share His love and who He is with the world around you? Are you seizing those?
2. Are you walking in wisdom so that both your words and deeds are in line with His ways?
FURTHER READING:
James 1:5; Revelation 1:3
(1) Weirsbe, Warren W, The Bible Exposition Commentary: Volume 2, Cook Communications, Colorado Springs, CO, 2001, p. 148.
Oakwood’s missionaries Elin Henderson and her husband Phil serve as church planters with New Tribes in Mozambique, Africa. Elin is mother to ten-year-old Callie and seven-year-old Elias.
