An encouraging word at the right time

Proverbs 25:11 (NLV)

A word spoken at the right time is like fruit of gold set in silver.

There are times in our lives when we get depressed.  All of us get depressed at one time or another although some get depressed more often than others.  I am not referring to clinical depression where there is some kind of chemical imbalance in the brain leading to chronic depression, but depression that occurs to all of us from time to time because of something wrong occurring in our lives.  When you think about times of depression in your life, what helped you to get rid of the depression?  Sometimes, it just goes away, sometimes a good night’s sleep helps, but many times, an encouraging word from someone else is what you needed.  Encouraging words may be spoken or, perhaps more often, written in an email message or letter.  Such words, even a single word, spoken at the right time compares to a fruit of gold set in silver.

In the Bible gold represents not only a precious and most valuable metal or gem, but also refers to the glory of God, that which is pure, rare, special, beautiful and durable.  When you think of gold in the Bible you think of gold being one of the gifts of the three wise men (representing Jesus’ kingship, Matt 2:11) and streets of golf in heaven (Rev 21:21).  However, the use of the word “gold” (Hebrew “zahab”) in Prov 25:11 figuratively means something that is clear and fair, like a clear, fair weather day.  That’s what an encouraging word does, make your life seem like a fair weather day.   Silver (Hebrew “keceph”) does not have the value of gold but still represents something of value and was common currency in biblical times (Judas betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver).  The term “silver lining” is an idiom used to assume someone that there’s a comforting or hopeful no matter how desperate or unhappy the situation.  So an encouraging word is like gold that brightens your day and silver that gives you hope. 

When is the right time to speak an encouraging word?  There are times that it is better to be silent (Eccles 3:7).  When you don’t know what to say it probably is best that you don’t say anything.  Dionysius the Elder wrote: “Let thy speech be better than silence-----or be silent.”  Too often people feel that they have to say something and that something turns out to be insensitive.  For example, people will say “Oh, it’s going to be okay” when it would be far better to say nothing and just hold a hand or put your arm around a shoulder.  If you have not experienced what someone is experiencing it is wrong to say “I understand”.  No, you don’t understand so don’t say anything. 

However, most of the time, saying simple or few words of encouragement---“I care for you”, “I love you”, “Is there anything I can do for you”---can make a world of difference to someone who needs to hear these kinds of words.  People who are lonely, discouraged, worried, unhappy, feeling rejected, unwanted, unworthy always need to hear someone tell them something positive.  Proverbs 12:25: “Worry in the heart of a man weighs it down, but a good word makes it glad”.  Just contacting someone through an email, a phone call or visiting in person and showing that you care for them makes such a positive impact on them. 

Yet, while we all love to be encouraged, especially when times are difficult, so few of us actually do any encouraging at all.  Think about it……..how long has it been since you specifically spoke or wrote an encouraging word to someone else?  When was the last time to spoke or wrote an encouraging word at the right time to members of your family, your neighbor, your co-worker, your friends at church, your pastor, and others you know?  Have you ever, out of the clear blue, written a note of encouragement to someone?  You must know how good it feels to receive encouragement from others, but are you doing it?  Someone needs to hear from you today. 

“The world is full of discouragers.  We have a Christian duty to encourage one another.  Many a time a word of praise or thanks or appreciation or cheer has kept a man on his feet.  Blessed is the man who speaks such a word.”  William Barclay