Sweet Lips

Sweet Lips

(Prov 16:21 NLT) The wise are known for their understanding, and pleasant words are persuasive.

Here Solomon continues to flow in the vein of plain truth. He has been teaching us about the importance of receiving and developing in God’s wisdom for many chapters. Now he tells us that if we do it, if we truly develop the wisdom of God and walk in it, that we will be known for it. We will establish a reputation as someone who has discernment and insight.

Others will bring us their problems and challenges, because they know that we can quickly get to the heart of issues and formulate solutions that are profitable for all parties involved. But the latter portion of the text is very interesting. Solomon tells us that pleasant words are persuasive. In other words, he is teaching us that if we really want people to listen to and apply what we say, that we should say it in a pleasant way.

People are not going to willingly come to receive advice/counsel from someone who is demeaning and disrespectful. You may have all the answers, but if your disposition is so unpleasant that no one will approach you, then what good is the wisdom you possess? How can you help anyone if no one is willing to hear what you have to say? So not only does Solomon urge us to be wise (with God’s wisdom), but to also be pleasant and approachable. Now that’s sound counsel!

Others translations, when mentioning the pleasantness of our words, speak to the “sweetness” that should be in our lips. For example, the New American Standard Bible reads: “Sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness.” From this I get the term, “Sweet lips.” When God sets up a divine appointment for you and someone comes to you for insight and wisdom, then make sure you maintain sweet lips as you share it, because if not, the wisdom might not be received.

It is one thing when someone rejects what you have to say because it is the truth, but it is quite something else when they reject what you have to say because of the way you said it. The right thing, expressed the wrong way, might be rejected altogether. Later on in this chapter Solomon drove home the importance of using pleasant words, saying, “Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones” (v.24).

The Father wants you to build people up, not tear them down, and when you share His Word, with a pleasant disposition, then the experience will be sweet and satisfying to the receiver. Mother Teresa said, “Kind words can be short and easy to speak but their echoes are truly endless.” Never underestimate the power of a kind word. One word, shared from the right person, in the right way, can change the day (or even the life) of another. Constant kindness can accomplish much. As the sun makes ice melt, kindness causes misunderstanding, mistrust, and hostility to evaporate.

So what does this mean to you today? It means that you may have been blessed with an elevated position and maybe even supernatural wisdom, but if you don’t have the right disposition you will not be able to make the impact the Father desires for you to make.

So seek wisdom, develop in understanding, and allow God’s truth to be the platform from which you speak, but remember that no one will ever come to you for that wisdom if you don’t share it with sweet lips!

Father, I thank You for blessing me to develop in Your wisdom. I declare, by faith, that Your wisdom is in me so strong that I develop a reputation as someone who walks in divine understanding. You send people to me, for me to impart Your wisdom into their lives, and they come willingly because I share Your truth with sweet lips. I build up and I do not tear down. I am here to help and not to hurt. I am here to bless and never to curse. I will never allow my position, no matter how high You bless me to go, to sway me from having a pleasant disposition daily! In Jesus’ name. Amen!