Our encouraging words
The heart of a wise person instructs his mouth; it adds learning to his speech. Pleasant words are a honeycomb: sweet to the taste and health to the body. There is a way that seems right to a person, but its end is the way to death. A worker’s appetite works for him because his hunger urges him on. A worthless person digs up evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire. A contrary person spreads conflict, and a gossip separates close friends. Proverbs 16:23-28
King Solomon from the text, discussed the importance of wisdom that God provides so that those who follows Him will be guided as they make decisions. “A person’s heart plans his way, but the Lord determines his steps” (Proverbs 16:9). God gives us the resources so we could be a blessing to others. As a follower of God, our words are capable of providing life. In this world where people are degraded and beaten up by harsh words, we as God’s followers have the ability to knock off negativity. Probably when we were not still a Christian, we were told words that have broken our spirit: “You’re not smart.” “You amount to nothing.” “The world could have been better if you were not born.” But because of our relationship with God, such opinions are not given attention for what matters now is how God loved and saved us. God’s wisdom helps us that such types of words will not come out from our mouth. We weigh our words for we know that there will be instances that our words might be the only message some people needed to hear in a certain time that could bring about encouragement. We have to make a choice to commit to build up the people around us. ”Let us pursue what promotes peace and what builds up one another” (Romans 14:19). God called us to “encourage each other and build each other up, just as we [you] are already doing” (1 Thessalonians 5:11). We place value on others when we help them by bringing out the best in them. Remember how God valued us despite the fact that we do not deserve the attention He gave us, yet He gave Himself to us so we could receive life. In spite of our failures in the past, God provided us an opportunity to have a fresh start. “God made my life complete when I placed all the pieces before him. When I cleaned up my act, he gave me a fresh start” (2 Samuel 22:21-22). God wants to use us so that others can hear the “good news of great joy...Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11).
Blessings,
Noel De Guzman
www.my-wbc.com