Proverbs 12:18 & 25 NLT
18 There are those who speak rashly, like the piercing of a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
25 Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down, but an encouraging word makes it glad.
Growing up in New York, I rarely had to wonder where I stood with just about anyone. They either liked me or they didn’t. My efforts or ability were either appreciated or they weren’t. There wasn’t a lot of sugar-coating to accompany a typically blunt assessment. And, to be honest, that’s one of the things I appreciate most about my fellow New Yorker’s. It’s so much easier to deal with and move on down the road when you know, up front, where you stand. However, this mindset doesn’t lend itself particularly well to an environment of encouragement. When you’ve done well, you hear about it. If not, consolation typically must be found on your own.
So, for any of you that know me well, this surely explains where my bluntness comes from. And it may, in part, explain why I find myself constantly disappointed in the way I use (or don’t use) my words as a child of God. Not because I’ve set out to tear anyone down, but because I may not have made a concerted effort to build them up.
When we encounter someone at any given time, we can never know what they’re feeling or what they’re going through. We don’t always know if they’re having a great day or a terribly difficult day. We probably don’t know if they are in a particularly “good place” or struggling just to make it. But we can have an impact on them. And, our impact can either be positive or negative.
We often speak so much that we forget the power behind our words. Our words can either build someone up or tear them down. This doesn’t necessarily mean we have to always say nice, sappy sweet things to people to build them up. Simply pointing out a positive attribute of those we have contact with or praising them in their efforts can have a far-reaching impact on their day or life. Even when we’re giving guidance or correction we can build someone up by balancing that guidance or correction with encouragement. While words can come so easily to us, we should be reminded that when thrown out recklessly they can cause great harm. But, when given carefully, words can bring great healing and encouragement to others.
Proverbs 12:25 speaks of anxiety weighing a man’s heart down while an encouraging word makes it glad. With the abundance of anxiety we can so easily find these days, my daily prayer is that my words would make glad the heart of those I come in contact with.
Posted by Don Jackson on March 2, 2010 at 9:06 AM
I certainly enjoyed reading this post. Again I am reminded of the responsibility of my words. I hope to speak chosen words in season according to (is.50: 4-5).