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A Little Honey

I can only speak for myself but I must admit that I like a little honey on a good ole home made biscuit. I have also heard “That a little honey make the medicine go down”. When you eat this sweet substance have you ever stopped to think about where the honey has come from? The Bible tells us that honey is from God: (Ezek 16:19) “My meat also which I gave thee, fine flour, and oil, and honey, wherewith I fed thee, thou hast even set it before them for a sweet savour: and thus it was, saith the Lord GOD.” It is God speaking here and he speaks of giving meat, flour, oil and honey. Although we often eat honey without giving it any though; it is God who has provided the honey for our sweet tooth.

Some may have their doubts about God giving us honey saying, “Everybody knows that bees make honey”. This is true, but where did the bees come from? Those who know and understand the truth know that God created the flower from which bees get nectar. I concluded that God is indeed the giver of honey.

I doubt that anyone needs someone else to tell them that honey is sweet; but the Bible does speak of the sweetness on honey: (Judg. 14:18) “And the men of the city said unto him on the seventh day before the sun went down, What is sweeter than honey? and what is stronger than a lion? And he said unto them, If ye had not plowed with my heifer, ye had not found out my riddle.” Aren’t you glad that God created us with a craving for something sweet?

The honeycomb is the sweetest and to some it is the most valuable: (Prov. 16:24) “Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.” (Prov. 24:13) “My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste:” If you want to make friends speak “pleasant words” words that are as sweet as the honeycomb! I know for a fact that I do not enjoy or like to be around someone who is grumpy and always complaining; I would much rather spend time with someone who is pleasant, speaking sweet words. If you are trying to lead someone to Christ [through the gospel] be patient and speak sweet words. You will be more likely to succeed in this manner than if you tell them “You are going to hell if you don’t change your ways and accept Jesus Christ as your Savior.”

The book of Proverbs also gives us some sound advice about eating honey: (Prov. 25:16) Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.” I learned this the hard way. When I was about twelve years old my dad and uncle robbed a bee hive that was in our pasture, I remember well them placing the honey and honeycomb in a washtub. Uncle Jake got out a piece of the honeycomb and gave it to me. Needless to say I liked it and did not stop eating with the piece that was given to me. Before going to bed I got very sick; it was years before I could eat any honey again. You should not overeat honey, neither should you overdo it with sweet words, there does come a time when you may have to be blunt and tell someone “If they don’t change they are going to hell”.

I remember an occasion when my wife and I were teaching a lady the gospel. We had been told that every preacher before me had worked with her to no avail. After completing our study [which took several weeks] I asked her, “If Jesus were to come tonight would you go to heaven or hell?” I guess it was the right question at the right time because she did obey the gospel and the last time I heard from her she was still faithful. There is surely a time for words of honey and a time to speak boldly!

Do you know that honey is illustrative of the Word of God? (Psa. 19:10) “More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.” This is certainly true of anyone who is willing to study the Bible with an open heart. How do you receive God’s message to you.