It sometime seems like life swings from one extreme to another. Finding a balance in life is very difficult and finding a balance in the Christian life is even more difficult. That 
really seems to be the case when deciding which “method” is right when trying to spread the gospel. Some stand on the corner yelling accusations at passers-by (even though they don’t even know the person), while others know people for years without even mentioning the name of Jesus in all that time. We pick either an attack philosophy that runs people off or a “look-at-my-actions” approach that relies on others figuring out that Jesus is the reason for our good behavior. These kinds of extremes can be very problematic.
No one will enter heaven just by knowing a Christian. Others around us might like us, might even want to be like us, but if our faith is so reserved that they can only find out the part that Jesus plays in our lives by stripping away many layers of other “stuff” first, it is a gamble on our parts. The “gospel-living” method of spreading the gospel without the “gospel-giving” part is very dangerous.
Colossians 4:2-6 gives us some instruction on witnessing to others that we might keep in mind as we go through our day. In these verses Paul is telling the Colossians how to pray for him in his witness and consequently how we should pray for others and ourselves. He tells them to “continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.” Paul was not in prison because he just lived a life of Christ, but because he spoke of it as well. He asks the Colossians to ask God to open doors for the Word that he might share the mysteries of Christ. He also asks for prayer that he might make the the gospel of Christ clear. Notice he is speaking of verbalizing his faith. He is not only stating that he should speak, but how he should speak- giving a clear gospel to those who will listen.
A man came up to the famous evangelist D.L. Moody and criticized him for the way he went about winning souls. Moody listened courteously and then asked, “How would you do it?” The man, taken aback, mumbled that he didn’t do it. “Well,” said Moody, “I prefer the way I do it to the way you don’t do it.”
That was what Paul was saying to the Colossians (and thus us) when he said, “Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” Notice here that graciousness is a key to giving the gospel. But notice also that Paul does not stop at gospel living, 
but speaks of gospel giving. If we live sanctified lives that is a wonderful witness of the love of Christ, but if no one knows it is because of the love of Christ, it will not draw them to Him. Paul says to “walk in wisdom…making the best use of the time.” The best use of our time would be to do what Paul did- live a life according to God’s Word while at the same time sharing why we can live that life. That is the balance that is called for in the Word- that is the balance we should seek.
Have a wonderful day.
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