“Use your words.” If you are a parent, you have likely uttered this sentence to your child when he/she is having trouble verbalizing their feelings. Speech is a gift from God, but we are often guilty of abusing this instrument of common grace, speaking recklessly to others. If you are like most people, you have recently experienced the harm words can cause. Surely, there have been times in your life when you were the one who spoke words that caused severe emotional damage. Perhaps you were recently on the receiving end of harsh words. Talk like this is all too common in our world as men, women, and children speak out of the conditions of their naturally sinful hearts. No wonder James 3:8 calls the tongue “a restless evil, full of deadly poison” (ESV).
Yet, in Proverbs 16:24, God gives us a snapshot of what can happen when we use our words as he intended. “Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body” (ESV). In this text, we are not just being instructed to speak without cruelty but to speak with the intention of being kind. There is a difference. This is not just about avoiding harmful speech; it’s about actively using our language to heal, to build up, and to bless others.
Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.
Proverbs 16:24 (ESV)
If you are like me, I enjoy a hot cup of black coffee in the morning. I know this is not everyone’s preference. However, I sometimes grow weary of the bitterness of my cup of joe, especially as it cools. My go-to choice to sweeten my experience is a spoonful of local honey. This natural sweetener has many health advantages. As sugar cane was not cultivated or available in ancient Israel, it makes sense that there are so many Scriptural references to honey as a sweetening agent. Honey is a smooth, sweet addition to my cup of coffee.
So what does this mean for the context of Proverbs 16:24? Kind words can bring golden delight to someone’s dark night. A little bit of grace can change the flavor of someone’s day from acidic and tart to rich and satisfying. Though words of brutality can produce the worst pain imaginable, speech that is considerate and gentle can heal and restore the depths of our souls.
In the midst of a world where words are often wielded as weapons, causing deep wounds and lasting scars, there stands one whose words transcend time and circumstance, offering healing and hope unparalleled. Jesus, the Word made flesh, epitomizes the essence of Proverbs 16:24. Jesus used His words to uplift the depressed, heal the diseased, comfort the mourning, and forgive the sinner. Consider the mercy He showed to the thief on the cross, ensuring him a place in paradise. His words were like honey to this man, not only in their sweetness but in their ability to promise life and hope for his soul.
Imagine how the world around us would thrive if God’s people would adhere to this sweet, gentle reminder from the Lord. Let us then strive, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to reflect the sweetness of Christ in every word we speak, turning our conversations into opportunities for grace to flow through us like honey from the honeycomb. This is what the Barnesville Buzz hopes to be for you—a source of local honey to sweeten your life. So you can expect a devotional like this one to direct your attention to thoughtful reflections from Scripture. No news is sweeter than the Good News, and no words were ever more soothing to our wounds than the healing words of Christ. To us, they are words worth speaking, and we aim to use our words for the betterment of this community to the glory of God.
Bee-Attitude
Blessed are you who speak with grace, for you shall sweeten souls and heal wounds. Let your words be as honey. In the footsteps of Jesus Christ, be a messenger of hope through every word you speak.
Grant Turner is the editor of the Barnesville Buzz and an educator, coach, and writer based in Barnesville, Georgia. He shares stories that bridge community, faith, and personal growth. In addition to teaching and coaching, Grant is Director of Musical Worship and a Sunday School teacher at New Hope Baptist Church in Zebulon, Georgia. He lives in Barnesville with his wife, Haley.
