Colossians 4:1-6 “Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven. Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak. Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.”
Text Matthew 25:19 “After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.”
Having given an admonishment concerning our social duties with respect to others in Colossians 3:18-4:1, Paul then emphasizes our spiritual duties with respect to the Divine in Colossians 4:2-6. When we consider these spiritual duties, we find three distinct areas of obedience. In verses 2-4, there is our duty with respect to our supplication, “Continue in prayer.” Within the text, Paul emphasizes the perseverance of supplication and the particulars of supplication. We are not only to be constantly diligent in prayer, but we are to be specific with respect to the subject of prayer. Paul wanted them to entreat God on their behalf. James encouraged us to “pray one for another” (James 5:16). In verse 5, Paul considers our steps, “Walk in wisdom.” With regard to our earthly journey, we should always consider our testimony and the time. We are to bear in mind that others are watching our lives, especially those that are lost, and our time here is like the flower of the field, “For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more” (Psalm 103:16). In verse 6, Paul considers our speech, “Let your speech be alway with grace.” The words which flow from our lips should be such, that the hearer knows that they are the results of divine influence upon the heart. Paul emphasizes our spiritual responsibilities concerning our supplication, our steps, and our speech.
While we know our duty; the question is, “Will we do our duty?” In addition to magnifying the specifics of duty, Paul reveals the stimulus of duty, “knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.” In Matthew 25:14-30, our Lord tells the story of a master that divides his goods among his servants and takes a journey, leaving them with the responsibility of doing their duty. The incentive for doing one’s duty is the Lord’s return and the Lord’s reckoning. Paul is reminding us to remember our relationship to God, we are His servant and He is our Master. That being the case; remember, He is going to return and when He does, it will be time to settle the account. Paul emphasizes this thought when writing unto the church at Corinth; “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad” (II Corinthians 5:10).
When writing unto the Colossians, he reminds them of spiritual duties; our supplication, our steps, and our speech. They now their responsibilities! Paul wants them to understand that they can do what they want to, he cannot force them into obedience, he can remind them; “ye also have a Master in heaven.”
In addition to the specifics of duty, Paul will remind them of the stimulus of duty; “Ye Have a Master.”