Walking with the Wise #56: The Power of Encouragement

“The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,

but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.”
—Proverbs 10:11

God knows the heart. It doesn’t matter what we say; God knows how we really feel and what we are really thinking. Today’s proverb addresses the power of the tongue. Those who are righteous have tongues that give life to those around them. How many of us have benefited from someone coming alongside us, offering us a word of encouragement? How many of us have found strength when someone we love, admire, or cherish gives us a pat on the back and says “atta boy” or “atta girl”? A person’s heart overflows with what is in it—and for those who are constantly in the Bible, their mouth overflows with God’s truth, giving life to those who will listen to him or her, as Jesus said:

“The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks”—Luke 6:45.

Solomon contrasts two different types of individuals in today’s proverb. One uses his tongue to encourage, praise, exhort, rebuke, love and help others according to the truth of God’s Word, while the other says one thing but really feels another. The wicked person is plotting evil toward another, but tries to cover it up by pretending something entirely different.

If our tongues are ever to be a “fountain of life” we must make every effort to watch what we say. We must learn to be honest with our words, and use them to build up others, not destroy. We must use our words to bring others to the Savior, not drive them away.

How is your mouth? Are you using it for God’s glory? Or are you using it hypocritically to hurt others? May God use our tongues to bless. May our speech “be gracious” and “seasoned with salt” (Colossians 4:2), so that others might be attracted to the Savior by what we say and how we live for the honor and glory of His great and wonderful name. Amen.