保羅在結束這封信之前提出最後的勸勉，這個勸勉提醒信徒要保持與神與人的關係。保羅教導信徒要「恆切禱告」，因為禱告是與神與人維持關係的基礎。在與神的關係裡面，我們要在禱告中「警醒感恩」，這是對上帝犧牲的愛的態度。感恩不只是感恩，還包括警醒，深怕我們在不知不覺中又重新穿上「舊人」。（4:1）

在與人的關係裡面，我們要用禱告被此代求。彼此代求是基督徒聚集的完美句點，如果少了這件事，就會如同一般人的聚集一樣草草結束。

保羅也提醒我們與人談話要像「用鹽調味」（4:6）。用鹽調味的關鍵在於「仔細衡量」，話說得太重就如同鹽放太多，讓人吃不下去；話說得太輕，講不到重點，如同鹽放太少，一樣讓人吃不下去。另一方面，每個人喜好的鹹淡也不同，如何對不同的人講合適的話，真的需要「從上頭來的智慧」（雅各書3:17）。

有時我們會只顧自己的想法去說話，而忽略對方的感受，結果就是讓人聽不下去。成功的廚師不會只顧自己的喜好，而是會迎合顧客的口味，同時又堅持自己料理的原則。

保羅「用鹽調味」的比喻真是再貼切不過，他本身就是個中翹楚。保羅對哥林多教會講的話可說是「重鹹」，因為歌林多教會是他建立的，他在他們身上有「權柄」。但對歌羅西教會，保羅的語氣從頭到尾都相當冷靜溫和，因為那是以巴弗建立的教會，不是保羅建立的教會，保羅也不是他們的牧者，對他們並無權柄。

願聖靈幫助我們與人交談的時候能夠有智慧去「用鹽調味」，使我們能「把各人在基督裡完完全全地引到上帝面前。」（1:28）

简体圣经 | https://www.bible.com/bible/140/COL.4.RCUVSS

繁體聖經 | https://www.bible.com/bible/139/COL.4.RCUV

Before ending this letter, Paul gives a final exhortation to remind the believers to maintain their relationship with God and with others. Paul teaches the believers to "continue steadfastly in prayer," because prayer is the foundation for maintaining a relationship with God and with others. In our relationship with God, we should "be watchful and thankful" (NIV) in prayer, which is an attitude of gratitude for God's sacrificial love. Gratitude not only involves thankfulness but also watchfulness, lest we inadvertently put on the "old self" again (4:2).

In our relationship with others, we should also intercede for one another in prayer. Mutual intercession is the perfect ending for Christian gatherings, and without it, gatherings will end hastily like those of ordinary people.

We should also "live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity." (4:5, NLT). The literal meaning of "make the most of every opportunity" is "buying up all the time," and the whole sentence means to exhaust all possible costs and opportunities, using the wisdom given by God to "present everyone fully mature in Christ" (1:28).

Paul also reminds us to season our speech with salt when talking with others. (4:6) The key to seasoning our speech with salt is "careful measurement," as speaking too heavily is like using too much salt, making it hard to swallow, and speaking too lightly may miss the point, like using too little salt, which is also hard to swallow. On the other hand, everyone has different tastes, and how to speak appropriately to different people really requires "wisdom from above" (James 3:17).

Sometimes, we only speak our own thoughts and ignore the other person's feelings, which makes it hard for them to listen. Successful chefs do not only focus on their own preferences but also cater to their customers' tastes while adhering to their own cooking principles.

Paul's metaphor of "seasoning with salt" is really apt, as he himself was the best of all in this. Paul's words to the Corinthian church were "strongly seasoned" because he founded that church, and he had authority over them. But to the Colossian church, Paul's tone was calm and gentle throughout because that was a church established by Epaphras, not Paul, and Paul was not their pastor, so he had no authority over them.

May the Holy Spirit help us to have wisdom to 'season with salt' when we talk with others, so that we may be able to  "present everyone fully mature in Christ" (1:28).

Reading the Bible | https://www.bible.com/bible/59/COL.4.ESV