Proverbs 12:25

What is the cheapest and easiest gift? Give a kind word away! It can make a sad heart glad. Such love will not cost you anything. What a cheap way to be rich to others! You could send a person skipping down the street. You could lay another brick for eternal life.

Your mouth can do more than swallow food. It can cheer a heavy heart. You can learn kind, complimentary, encouraging words of truth to do it. Can you spot a heavy heart or sad spirit? Do you know good words it needs? Will you get excited to fulfill this proverb?

Christians are to love one another (Jn 13:34-35). Church members are to consider one another (Heb 10:24; 13:3). Both are one-on-one duties. Speech is often used to cut and hurt, but considerate words in love can be very healthful (Pr 12:18; 16:24; 25:11; 27:9).

Have God and Solomon got your attention? But God knew something important Solomon did not. He knew you would have ability to communicate a kind word easier than ever e.g. phone, email, text, Facebook, tweet, etc. You could lift a heart right now. Do it!

Most men are too selfish and preoccupied with their own lives to notice others, and most do not have the affection or concern to say something kind and helpful. They are too lazy to consider another person and do something about it. The rest are too fearful or ignorant.

Sad sacks cannot be justified: saints should be the happiest people on earth (Ps 4:7; 63:5; 92:4; I Pet 1:8). Great men get cast down, but they are not overwhelmed (Ps 42:1-11; II Cor 4:8-10). An unruled melancholy spirit is a devilish curse (Pr 15:15; Jas 3:14-16).

But for those justly cast down, you have someone deserving attention and affection. A heavy heart carries weighty burdens that make it stoop; it is a soul pressed down by cares, circumstances, and troubles. King Lemuel’s mother suggested wine to help (Pr 31:6-7).

Think of this wine! Mary Magdalene, a sinful woman Jesus had forgiven, was crying after finding her Lord’s tomb empty. But a Man appearing to be the gardener said, “Mary.” With one good word, she was better and said, “Master.” Read it (Jn 20:11-18).

Think of this wine! Zechariah was a prophet to encourage Jews that returned to rebuild Jerusalem after 70 years of captivity in Babylon. He saw a vision of a great angel asking God when He would be merciful to Jerusalem. God answered with “good words and comfortable words,” which lifted Zechariah to a great message of hope (Zech 1:12-17).

It is cruel to dance around those cast down. It is like taking away a coat in cold weather (Pr 25:20). This cheap affection does more harm than good. “Cheer up, my brother, live in the sunshine,” are good words, but men with real burdens and sad hearts need more (Pr 14:10; 15:13; 17:22; 18:14). Weep with them instead of dance (Rom 12:15; I Cor 12:26).

A book of the Bible describes Job’s three self-righteous friends, who did not have a good word to gladden his heavy heart. Instead, they joined together in accusing him of hypocrisy. No wonder he called them miserable comforters. But many often follow their lead and blame trouble on God’s judgment, though it may only be an affectionate trial.

When did you last compliment someone directly and sincerely? How often do you do it? A kind thought about another not expressed – is worthless! If you have a good thought about someone, tell them. How much better would the world be if people complimented those deserving it? How much would righteous men be encouraged in righteousness?

Bearing one another’s burdens fulfills the law of Christ (Gal 6:2), and it might be as easy as an encouraging word. This includes comforting the feebleminded, which may be the result of a heavy heart (Ps 38:1-22; I Thess 5:14). If you are strong in the Lord, it is your duty to look for those who are weak and help them (Rom 15:1-3). Say something kind.

Solomon’s proverbs have been read for 3000 years. But no one could communicate so easily and freely over any distance as you can by phone, email, text, Facebook, tweet, etc. When you give an account to God, He will remind you (Luke 12:48; Rom 14:10-12).

The tongue has power of life or death; godly saints use it for health and life (Pr 12:18; 15:23; 16:24; 18:21; 27:9). Only a pinch of salt – criticism or rebuke – should flavor a wise man’s gracious words (Eph 4:29; Col 4:6). The goal is to edify, or build up, one another, as Jonathan built up David, when he was hiding in the woods (I Sam 23:16).

If you gladden a sad heart by a good word, you lay another brick for eternal life. Heaven is a free gift by God’s grace for His people, but you can assure your heart and increase your confidence of it by kindness to others (I Tim 6:17-19; I Jn 3:14-19; Heb 6:10).

Increase life expectancy and success by a good word to your parents (Eph 6:2-3). Secure your children’s obedience by a kind word (Col 3:21). Enhance your love life by a tender word to your spouse (Gen 34:3). Thank your boss by a good word (I Tim 6:1). Encourage a policeman (Rom 13:7; I Pet 2:17). Uplift your pastor by a word to him (I Thes 5:12-13).

Jesus during His life comforted and encouraged many, because God had given him a wonderful gift of speech “that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary” (Is 50:4). As He carefully placed himself to comfort Mary with a single word after His resurrection (Mark 16:9), you should think of someone right now you could lift.

Angels comforted and strengthened Jesus Himself several times, especially when His spirit was greatly troubled in Gethsemane (Mark 14:33-34). He sends His Spirit to comfort you, when you humble yourself before Him and cry for help. Follow His holy example and use the good words of His good Word to make many sad hearts glad.