What do you suppose Paul means when he tells the believers in Colosse to be “wise” in how they acted toward those who were not part of the church?
I think the parallel statement in Ephesians gives some clues. He tells the Ephesians to be “careful” as they make the most of every opportunity because the days are “evil.”
The wisdom that Paul encourages them to use is the wisdom from the Spirit that helps them to be in the world but not of it. “Making the most of every opportunity” is not talking about opportunities to separate ourselves from the people of the world but rather opportunities to share meaningfully with people about God’s grace. However, in making the most of every opportunity to share with people, Paul warns them to be careful, for there is real evil out there.
It seems that being “wise” denotes a kind of alert intentionality. Wise people don’t just live. They live intentionally. They are alert to the reality that at any given moment the Spirit could provide an opportunity for them to demonstrate grace and speak truth. They look for these opportunities, and they are ready for them. At the same time, wise people know that at any given moment the evil one could throw a flaming dart of temptation in the direction of their minds. So, they keep their shields of faith up.
This kind of wisdom only comes from living in dependence on the Spirit.
Kip
