Maximizer: Colossians 4.5-6

Time is very important to us.  Have you ever found yourself ahead of schedule so you squeezed in another task and as a result you were late?  We can easily lose track of our time and  it can be later than we thought it was!  We try to get as much as we can out of our time to maximize our lives.  In Colossians 4, Paul writes to the church telling them how they can get the most out of their time.  Our opportunities to reconcile with God are slowly slipping away.  Paul writes to a people who are surrounded by people that are not walking with God.  How do we live with the fact that we know time is slipping away?

Walk in wisdom.

Wisdom is a theme throughout the book of Colossians.   Jesus is the head.  We learn from Jesus.  He tells us what's good for our hearts.  

        Live wisely among those who are not believers, Colossians 4.5a (NLT)                                                      This word "wisely" is a call to  communicate clearly and distinctly.  We are to carefully consider our actions and live a distinctive life.  Much of our life is spent fitting in.  We are not meant to be like everyone else.  If Jesus is the head of our lives,  God has transformed us into His image.  This makes us different.  We have different desires and we look different, so how should we live among other people?  If we are not different from the people around us then there's no reason for us to listen to what they have to say.  If we are not different, why would anyone want to follow Jesus?  It's like when a younger sibling asks the older if they will trade seats with them.  Why?  What's the difference in where they're sitting?  Paul is saying to the Colossian believers that they are different and they are to use it as a strength in their lives.  We want people to see we are different.                  

         Then Jesus asked them, “Would anyone light a lamp and then put it under a basket or under a bed? Of course not! A lamp is placed on a stand, where its light will shine.  Mark 4.21 (NLT) 

Jesus uses a simple analogy here.  If you light up a space you put the light where it can be maximized.  You do not cover it up.  Lights are intended to give off light.  When we turn on a flashlight we do not hide it under a blanket unless we're hiding from our parent staying up late.  The purpose of light is to go out.  This light we have been given inside of us is meant to make a difference in the world.  As we live a certain number of days we are called to maximize our time and energy.                                             

Maximize your time and energy. 

Who's a good shopper?  If you're a good shopper you know how to get a good deal.  

and make the most of every opportunity. Colossians 4.5b (NLT)                                                                       

This is a shopping analogy that actually means to "buy time."  We know time is something we cannot purchase.  Paul made the most of his opportunities.  At times Paul knew he was among philosophers so when he talked with them he'd make the most of that opportunity.  Sometimes we find ourselves in undesirable circumstances and life has taken a detour and it's not what we wanted.  Things are sometimes not as we planned, so what do we do?  Much of our prayer life is about getting things back to our plan.  That's not always a bad thing, but God is doing something new and different in our lives.  Sometimes God puts us in a new situation to bring glory to Him.  We saw this in Paul's life.  God places us where He does for His reasons.  For example, most of us know the story of David and Goliath.  How did David go about the process of killing Goliath?                                                                              

            ²²And David left the things in charge of the keeper of the baggage and ran to the ranks and went and greeted his brothers. ²³As he talked with them, behold, the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, came up out of the ranks of the Philistines and spoke the same words as before. And David heard him. Samuel 17.22-23 (ESV)        

David has a job to do.  David is too young to be a soldier.  He's at home.   His father sends him on a mission.  He's to swing by ALDI, pick up some supplies on sale and take them to his brothers.  David does his assignment and while he's doing it he overhears Goliath doing what he did every day, taunting the army of God.  When David heard this he was presented an opportunity that wasn't a part of his plan.  There are times that God places opportunities in our lives that are not a part of the plan.  We need to ask God to help us see the world around us and keep us ready to do His plan.  What stirs in David's heart is the opportunity to serve God.  God places these opportunities in our lives as well.  Our prayer should be that God will use the opportunities we have.  Conversations with people that are not walking with God are opportunities.  Some people want to walk with God but they aren't sure how to do that.  Colossian believers weren't sure how to do this and Paul says to be ready.                                                                                                                                            

Speak graciously.

                    Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone. Colossians 4.6 (NLT)

When we engage with people that aren't walking with Christ we should speak graciously.  Paul says to pray for him so that he speaks as he ought to speak.  This is a reminder to us that God does things to push us out of our church huddles.  He's done that over the past year.   Church life has been broken up and we cherish it even more now.  We can see value in being scattered and sent out.  After this time of worship together today in person and online after these moments we will scatter to school, work, to our families and God will spread us out with opportunities.  We know what "be gracious" means.  Our speech is to be attractive.  When we talk to people, people should want to talk to us.  Sometimes we have a mistaken notion that our role as believers is to convict the world of sin.  That job is already taken.  It belongs to the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit convicts of sin.  Our job is to present the Gospel to draw people to Jesus.  Do this in a way that is attractive.  We are to be salt and light.  Why do we use salt?  It makes food taste good.  We have this expression used in the New Testament about three times.  We should have attractive speech and use our words in such a way that people enjoy conversations with us.  How?  Paul went to Athens and engaged them in topics they were interested in.  Maybe you read books?   Maybe you like art?  People who are not believers sometimes do not realize that we are not that different.  We have things that are alike but the only difference is the grace of God.  We have given our lives to God.  Through Jesus we have been reconciled with God.  Our responsibility is to engage people in normal conversations like sports, music and lots of topics.  We can always find some common ground.  We love people and we love to connect with people.  Jesus and Paul had real conversations with people.  Let your speech be gracious and attractive and at the right opportunity, at the right moment you might be asked, "What's different about you?"  

always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 1 Peter 3:15

The only thing that is different about us is Jesus.  You are the light of the world if you have the Spirit of God in you.  You have the hope of Jesus Christ inside of you and you have opportunities to share that with the world.  

Father, we thank You for the hope of the Gospel.  Thank You that we can be whole and reconciled with You.  Lord, may we be ready to share the hope you've given us.  In Jesus name, Amen.

Sermon by Dr. Scotty Carpenter.  Sermon Notes by Jeni Martin Johnson.