Words!

Words!

Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, Sweet to the soul, and health to the bones. Proverbs 16:24 KJV

The Context:

Not much is laid out by way of context for this verse, as the entire book of Proverbs covers different facets of human life. Each verse of the book holds truths that can be blessings to anyone who will follow them. The verse before us today focuses on the power and effect of words. In order to fully understand this power, it is good to take a look at the verse before: The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips. Proverbs 16:23 KJV. It would mean that the words I speak out are an outflow of the lessons my heart has learnt over time. There are really no accidental words; whatever my lips produce is a reflection of the state of my heart. 

The Contention:

It would mean then that it is futile to teach anyone how to speak the right words; what you need to do is to teach them the right heart contents. Focusing on teaching the right words is a waste of time, as long as the heart is not regenerated. Think of this: who taught Cain how to kill, and then lie about it? The human heart is capable of anything, and it is only in the hands and under the control of God, its creator, that it can produce in line with the nature of its creator. The benefits of knowing and speaking the right words impact both the earthly and the eternal: it blesses the speaker, as well as the hearers. It does good to me first, and then the good can flow out to do good to others. 

The Conclusion:

You may wonder how pleasant words are sweet to the soul and health to the bones. Picture the life that you have spoken kind words to, and imagine the smile on that face and peace in that heart. I must seek to make that kind of impact on another person's life. Now, the caution also is this: like the honeycomb, I must continue to work to make it constantly flow. It must not be a one - season wonder, or a one-off commitment, but the practice of a lifetime. I cannot give what I don't have, and I cannot force a withdrawal from an account I have not made any deposit into. Are my words the sort that blesses lives? What do I need to do if I am not yet where I believe God wants me to be? May I surrender my life to God, so that all my life produces line up with God's perfect will. God's time of favour is here.