BEES LIKE HONEY, NOT VINEGAR
Proverbs
16:23-24 The heart of the wise makes his speech
judicious and adds persuasiveness to his lips. Gracious words are like a
honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.
Life is very easily made up
of words. Try living your normal day without saying a word and you will find
much difficulty and frustration. Words enable us to communicate with other
people in order to function at home, work or play. Without words then danger,
misunderstanding, loss, and disappointment will fill the void.
Words of rebuke, anger,
jealousy, rage, hatred, etc. will bring negative responses. Where no words are
used we see a resulting life of emptiness. When negative or abusive words are
used we find enmity, bitterness and a warring spirit between people. Such words
cause separation not unity. Words can drive people away if used improperly.
They can leave people ignorant for such words cause people to stop listening.
Words can be damaging if used improperly.
Then there are words that
bring positive responses from others. There are words that can be used that
bring benefit to the speaker and to the listeners. The Christian should learn
to speak words that build up others and not words that tear them down. Words
should be used to further God’s will for the listener.
James (3:9-10) reminds us
that with our words “we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people
who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and
cursing.” This is not what we should be doing with our words. So we should
learn to speak with our eyes heavenward knowing our words are heard by men and
by Jesus.