The Honeycomb, Proverbs 16

"Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones."

Proverbs 16:24


I love honey in my coffee. My wife rarely buys it for me because she says it is very expensive and too much honey isn't good for me. So, on occasion I get a surprise jar of honey that I savor for the duration of its utility in my coffee, on my toast, or by itself. I remember as a child, buying the kind of honey that has a honeycomb in it. I used to love to pull out the waxy structure and chew on it. Oh it was so good!!

Honey is written about throughout bible as a sweet and sometimes bitter experience. There is a balance that keeps it sweet.

I never thought about it, but I call my wife honey and my young girls honey. Life is sweet.

"Show Me Your Glory" by Third Day

Proverbs 16:7 - "When a man's ways are pleasing to the Lord, he makes even his enemies live at peace with him."

Are your ways pleasing to the Lord? Do you have enemies? The walk of a Christian may create friction and tension. It cost Jesus his life, which he was willing to pay. Jesus warned us that we will be persecuted for our faith. You are bound to create enemies for your dedication. I like this verse in that it offers a hope that peace will prevail and our enemies will be at peace. Are you in a lion's den today? Do you feel outnumbered and surrounded?

Proverbs 16:13 - "Kings take pleasure in honest lips; they value a man who speaks truth."

Are you a truth teller? My tendency is to embellish. Make things sound better than they are (which they usually are). We have heard the term "sugar coat". I have also seen people that are brutally honest to a fault. They are very honest about the faults of others, but blind to their own. No one wants to feel like an idiot and many "truth tellers" love to prove their point by clubbing others over the head.

I think honest lips are truthful and may be spoken in a way that captures the attention and the intrique of the wise. However, there are times when truth needs to be spoken in a way that may not be pleasant to the hearer. Both work, but discerning which is needed may be the challenge. Do you have an example of how truth has brought value to your life?

Proverbs 16:21 - "The wise in heart are called discerning, and pleasant words promote instruction."

Do you have a discerning heart? Do your words promote instruction? Teachers love to to teach. In fact, there is an old saying that goes, "A teacher learns more than the student". The shear act of sharing wisdom and knowledge opens hearts and minds. I make a point to tell my girls that they are so smart! I know that some parents tell their kids that they are dumb. Imagine what happens to the child's thought processes for either of these scenarios.

I am not trying to puff my children's egos or make them falsely confident. My goal is to have them believe they are smart to the point that they are motivated to get more information and enjoy learning. Each new discovery is the foundation that will indeed make them truly smart.

If a child thinks they are dumb, why should they try? Adults need to hear encouraging words too. Be honey to the soul.

On Mission, On Assignment, and in the ZONE!

Andy Valadez
e-mail: andy@marketingdynamics.org