Proverbs 24:26
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Every man shall kiss his lips that giveth a right answer.
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Excellent speech, appropriate answers, and words of truth are wonderful things. Good men perceive and respect such wise use of language. They will love the man who answers matters well with sound lips. Here is a goal for prudent men - excellent speech.
The tongue and lips - the faculty of speech - are potent tools for good or evil. In many proverbs and elsewhere in the Bible, men are warned against misuse of the tongue and encouraged to wise use of it (10:19; 12:18; 15:4; 18:21; Jas 1:19; 3:2-10).
One of the most direct routes to wisdom and godliness is learning excellent speech. For speech is the quickest and clearest evidence of a fool (17:28; 18:7; Eccl 5:3). But good words and answers are as beautiful as fine art (10:20; 25:11).
A wise man by the noble use of his mouth can feed many (15:4,23; 10:21). And good men love those who speak well (12:14; 16:13; 22:11; Job 6:25). By the little context we have here, we see the emphasis on the beauty of judges giving right answers (24:23-25).
Excellent speech is not by accident. It is by diligent use of Solomon's rules. Excellent speech requires preparation (15:28), hesitation (25:8), humiliation (26:12), limitation (17:27), discretion (26:4-5), certain words of truth (22:21), and graciousness (22:11).
Paul would say, "Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man" (Col 4:6). He understood the purpose and object of speech to be the gracious building up of the hearer (Eph 4:29).
Our Lord Jesus was the Master at giving right answers (Matt 22:46). We read with great pleasure how He handled conspiracies of the Jews to trap Him in His words, for He would confound them on the spot. When He spoke in general, the people were astonished (Matt 7:28-29). His enemies said, "Never man spake like this man" (John 7:46)!
He also blessed His disciples with wisdom and speech to confound their enemies, even without preparation (Luke 21:12-15)! The deacon Stephen brought the great hatred of the Jews on him for their inability to resist his wise speech by the Spirit of Christ (Acts 6:10).
It is your Christian duty to grow in the ability to teach and defend the truth of the gospel. Paul rebuked the Hebrew saints for their lack of progress toward teaching (Heb 5:12-14). And Peter exhorted his readers to be ready to give reasonable answers, not feelings, for their hope in Jesus Christ (I Pet 3:15). Dear reader, do you deserve kisses on the lips?
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