PROVERBS 16
Proverbs 16:21
"The wise are known for their understanding, and pleasant words are persuasive"I remember when I was 19 or 20, working for my cousin as a landscaper. One day, I was driving through town with a trailer and needed to stop at the Circle K. I noticed a guy spraying parking lines, and while I tried to avoid driving over them, I don’t think I did a great job. As I was about to park, he came over and started letting me have it for ruining his freshly painted lines.
Now, the younger version of me was probably ready to snap back. I could’ve even questioned why he was painting lines in the middle of the day. But something came over me, and instead, I was overly kind. I apologized sincerely—and something shifted. His attitude softened, and he suddenly became overly nice in return. He even helped guide me out, and I drove off.
That moment has always stuck with me. Things could’ve gone very differently if I had reacted differently. I learned early on that being pleasant can be incredibly persuasive.
As Christians, we have to remember this—especially in how we deal with people. Sometimes, those who call themselves Christians aren’t the easiest to deal with. But people who truly know Jesus are different. They understand that people make mistakes. They know this life is temporary, and we take nothing with us. They don’t sweat the small stuff. They’re quick to admit when they’re wrong.
Sure, there will still be times when we respond poorly—but as believers, those moments should become fewer and fewer. We want to be the reason someone finds Jesus, not the reason they walk away.
So the next time you’re on the verge of losing your cool, remember: pleasant words are persuasive. People enjoy interacting with kind-hearted individuals. They’re more willing to help when we approach them with grace.
You never know what someone else is going through—or what kind of day they’ve had. Being overly kind can make a world of difference.
I’ll leave you with this final story:
A pastor was once heading to a meeting at his church. Running late, he saw two teenage girls stranded on the side of the road. As he was about to pass, he felt the Lord prompting him to stop. He ignored it. Again, he felt the nudge but kept going—until the conviction became so strong that he turned around.
He stopped, talked to the girls, and helped fix the issue. They each went on their way.
Years later, that same pastor was interviewing a woman from his congregation for a staff position. During the conversation, he asked how she came to faith and what brought her to their church.
She said, “One day, my daughters were stranded on the side of the road, and a pastor from this church stopped to help. He was so kind and handled everything with care. That day, I decided we were going to visit his church. Because of his kindness, we started attending—and eventually became Christians.”
Be a pleasant Christian.
PRAYERJesus, we thank You. We thank You for all that You’ve done and for what You continue to do in and through our lives. We ask that You teach us to be more understanding, more kind, and more pleasant. When challenges arise, may our first instinct not be anger, but grace. Fill our hearts with compassion and love for all people. Thank You, Jesus. In Your name we pray, Amen.