Chuck Larsen

Verse six also indentifies the “purpose” of gracious, seasoned speech. The purpose closes verse 6. It says, “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” Verses 5&6 present us with living a good life before an unbelieving world, taking advantage of every opportunity to do good, and to let wisdom direct every aspect of your relationship with outsiders. The purpose of this is to make Christ known to the world. If you’re living this kind of life people are bound to notice and they will ask questions. Peter put’s Paul’s exhortation in these words, “Always (there’s that word again), be ready to give an answer to every man that asks you for the reason for the hope that you have.” View full article »

Our speech must always be gracious! That’s how verse 6 begins. But the verse goes on to say it also must be “seasoned with salt.” What does speech that is seasoned with salt, sound like?

A short perusal of the use of the word in the New Testament suggests that salt contains purifying, perpetuating and antiseptic qualities. In coming to grips with this exhortation in my life I believe that the “purity” of our speech, refers to thoughtfulness. Salt was part of nearly every sactifice in the Leviticus system. “Holiness” was essential! After many years in the Navy and both Mediterranean and Western Pacific cruises, I’ve heard and used every “unclean” word in the human language. Sadly, when I’m not thoughtful, they will still slip out. An effort for the Lord, a sacrifice that’s impure, is unacceptable. View full article »

Colossians 4:6 continues Paul’s instructions regarding “outsiders.” Our speech must be gracious. Notice the word “always.”  I regret to confess that my tongue has always been my greatest weakness. It gets me in trouble more than anything else. What I say, how I say it, when I say it all contribute to “graceless” speech. We need to be consistent in gracious speech at all times. In verse 5, Paul seems to be addressing first impressions. In verse 6 he’s stressing a continued, consistent testimony. View full article »

In Chapter 3, Paul told us to take off our old man and put on the new man. We should put on, “compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience…” Believe it or not, these things are immediately visible to others around us. Our demeanor, our appearance, makes our “clothing” readily apparent. Paul turns to the importance of our dress in regards to outsiders.  This is not a derogatory term as some suggest.  It probably refers to those not in our group. Of course, that’s what we’d natural get from the word “outsider.” View full article »

My father taught me how to work hard. Hard work was one of his highest values. Since most of his work was outside, in construction, the summers were always his busiest times. In the winter, he’d make artificial fire places and sell them from home. I can still remember customers coming over to buy them, and Dad and I loading them on his truck to deliver them with three feet of snow on the ground. In the summer he was up with the sun and often would not come home until it went down. He was always proud of his work and would often take some off his fee if the customers would let him sign his work. Since his work was in concrete, it was fairly permanent. The Longhorn bar in Fort Calhoun, Nebraska is often one of those jobs I refer to. After over half a century his signature is still there. On the North side of the bar, It says, “Duro Stone 1954 – Charlie Larsen.”

Paul teaches us that all the work we do should be done in such a way that we too would be anxious to sign it. There is no work menial or insignificant in God’s eyes. Everything we do has value when it’s done with the right motive. It’s a noble and honorable effort when we contribute to society and the world at large to make it a better place to live in every possible way. The contribution we make, whether in cleanliness, creativity, production, organization, motivation, education and every kind of service imaginable all contributes to the welfare of society.

The believer knows that even the most meager contribution in the world in which we live will be rewarded by the Lord himself in eternity. Addressing servants, Paul exhorts them to work hard “not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart.” Paul goes on, “whatever we do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward.”

Chuck

“You are serving Christ…” Colossians 3:24

The older I get the more nostalgic I get. My fondest memories are of the home in which I grew up on 25^th & Himebaugh in North Omaha. It was far from luxurious, but it was comfortable and the five of us fit very well. Mom and Dad had their chairs in the living room and at the dinner table.  We would never sit in their chairs. We respected their places. Us three kids all had our places too and we were happy with them. I heard my mother and father say many times, “There’s no place like home.” Mom even had a plaque on the wall that said that. It was “home, sweet home” for all of us.

It’s that way with Kathy and me in our home. We are very comfortable in our home. We don’t have to perform for anyone! We don’t have to impress anyone! We can really be ourselves. After 41 years together, we are really comfortable together in our home. View full article »