Be a People Builder
Ever since we were children, most of us have been taught Jesus’ words, “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you” (Matthew 7:12). Your mom may have made it clear that the Golden Rule covers both what you do and say. The principle is that if you want grace to come to you from others, you have to extend grace. If you extend kindness, kindness will be extended to you.
Sometimes we just throw caution to the wind with our words, not thinking they’re going to return to us. But what you say to and about others is going to affect you. The writer of Proverbs says we are going to eat from the fruit of our lips. We need to carefully choose the words we speak to others, because the truth is that we are going to be a product of what we say.
My question to you is, are you a person who is making positive deposits of kindness and compassion in other people’s lives, someone who is adding value to their lives? Or are you someone who is making withdrawals from other people’s emotional banks, someone who is depleting the value of their lives through criticism and negativity? Do you have a building mentality, someone who is using your words and actions to have a positive influence on the lives around you?
We need to realize that as the church of the living God, we are builders of people and the kingdom of God. We are intended to create with our words. The apostle Paul says, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen” (Ephesians 4:29). Not only can you build people up with your words, but you can find the best in them and bring it out of them. Your words can be the glue that holds your relationships together when you speak positive, faith-filled words to others.
It’s easy to see what’s wrong with others; it’s easy to cut people down and be at odds with them, but it takes a builder to see what’s right and to know how to help fix people. You can make a difference in the lives of the people around you by making grace-filled deposits into their accounts. Be a builder today!
Sometimes we just throw caution to the wind with our words, not thinking they’re going to return to us. But what you say to and about others is going to affect you. The writer of Proverbs says we are going to eat from the fruit of our lips. We need to carefully choose the words we speak to others, because the truth is that we are going to be a product of what we say.
My question to you is, are you a person who is making positive deposits of kindness and compassion in other people’s lives, someone who is adding value to their lives? Or are you someone who is making withdrawals from other people’s emotional banks, someone who is depleting the value of their lives through criticism and negativity? Do you have a building mentality, someone who is using your words and actions to have a positive influence on the lives around you?
We need to realize that as the church of the living God, we are builders of people and the kingdom of God. We are intended to create with our words. The apostle Paul says, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen” (Ephesians 4:29). Not only can you build people up with your words, but you can find the best in them and bring it out of them. Your words can be the glue that holds your relationships together when you speak positive, faith-filled words to others.
It’s easy to see what’s wrong with others; it’s easy to cut people down and be at odds with them, but it takes a builder to see what’s right and to know how to help fix people. You can make a difference in the lives of the people around you by making grace-filled deposits into their accounts. Be a builder today!