The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
Prov. 18:21
Do you have someone in your circle of friends that seems to say the right thing at the right time; a person who isn’t necessarily known as having the “gift of the gab,” but rather as someone you can count on for timely and good advice? We all need men or women like this in our lives, and they are candidates to be a life mentors and coaches.
The wise mentor speaks words of life and direction. Contrast the outcome of a person who learns to speak words of life into those around them, and those who do not:
A fool’s lips bring him strife and his mouth invites a beating. (18:6)
A fool’s mouth is his undoing, and his lips are a snare to his soul. (18:7)
The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man’s inmost parts. (18:8)
He who answers before listening – that is his folly and shame. (18:13)
I like to try and turn some of the negative examples into positive, seeing that there are direct results of heeding this instruction. For example:
A wise friend's words bring him peace. A man of integrity’s mouth is his strength, and his lips fortify his inner being. The words of a man who speaks with discretion are like exquisite food; they fill others up with good. He who answers after giving his words careful thought is known for his wisdom and is honoured among his peers.
Going back to Proverbs 13:20 (He who walks with the wise grows wise), I think that one of the keys for becoming a man or woman of integrity and wise speech, is to have that same kind of person in my life as a mentor. I’ve found that I need to seek this out (both in formal and informal settings), and it becomes an area of prayer, asking God to bring a mentor into my life.
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