3 Essential Traits Of A People Builder
We all need someone who can see our potential and believe in us more than we believe in ourselves.
When Jesus invited Peter to be one of his disciples, he didn’t call out his faults, past mistakes, or failures. Instead, Jesus told him what he could be.
Peter’s name was Simon, which meant “doubtful,” but Jesus gave him a new name, Peter, which means “rock.” Those words of encouragement urged Peter forward with courage, boldness, and faith to do what God created him to do (here’s how to boldly approach God in prayer and thank him for what he’s done).
Every follower of Jesus is called to be a people builder.
Most people need a little push, someone who believes in them. When you believe the best in someone, you draw out the best in them. You can often see things in others that they can’t see in themselves.
“Encourage one another and build each other up” (1 Thessalonians 5:11).
Here are three ways to be people builders:
1) Treat people as equal yet unique.
Every human is created in the image of God as a unique individual. Treating all people with equal respect regardless of race, language, financial status, or worldview should be a mark of a Jesus follower.
James says, “My dear friends, don’t let public opinion influence how you live out our glorious, Christ-originated faith” (James 2:1, MSG).
2) Give unconditional encouragement.
To encourage means to inspire courage. Call out the strengths and gifts in others and speak God’s blessing over them. This kind of inspiring courage does not have to meet certain conditions.
Unconditional encouragement is different from flattery. Flattery is insincere, empty words that may sound kind but are said with ulterior motives. Conditional encouragement uses the words “if” and “unless.” They are filters. “If you do this, then I’ll affirm you,” or “I won’t affirm you unless you do this.”
Challenge people to be bold and courageous and face their fears with new levels of faith.
3) Let your words be seasoned like salt.
The Scripture says, “Let your speech at all times be gracious and pleasant, seasoned with salt so that you will know how to answer each one who questions you” (Colossians 4:6, AMP).
Salt is a preservative. In the first century, there was no refrigeration to keep food from spoiling, fermenting, or decomposing. One of the primary ways people preserved food, particularly meat, was by soaking it in salt.
– Your words have the power to preserve and protect.
Speak life into another person, call out their strengths, and declare that their best days are ahead. Use your words as a preservative. Click here to learn about speaking life-giving words.
Salt is an antiseptic. The body can quickly become infected or septic because of germs and bacteria entering the bloodstream through an open wound. One of the ways to speed up the healing process in the first century was to pour a little bit of salt on it to prevent the harmful germs and bacteria from becoming septic.
– Your words can be a healing agent.
In the same way, a word carefully spoken at the right time can be an antiseptic, attacking harmful thoughts and attitudes that infect another person’s soul. Words like “I’m sorry” and “Will you forgive me?” are powerful healing agents that can mend fences torn down by the pain of unkind words.
Salt is a seasoning for food. Just like a skilled chef knows when and how to apply salt to food to improve it and bring out the best, we can use our words to bring out the best in others. Seasoning a conversation with salt adds just enough value and improves the conversation.
I’ve read that a person needs 2.9 compliments to counter one criticism. Many people are living in a compliment deficit. Seek the best in others. Look for ways to affirm and compliment before you criticize.
– Your words can lift people to a new level of courage.
I read the story about a teacher named Anne Sullivan who was contacted by the parents of a young girl named Helen Keller. At the age of 19 months, Helen fell ill, likely with scarlet fever or meningitis, which left her deaf and blind.
As a result, Helen became isolated and struggled to communicate with the world around her. Anne, who was herself visually impaired, used a groundbreaking method called fingerspelling, where she pressed letters into Helen’s palm to spell words.
Helen broke through her isolation and learned to communicate because of Anne’s persistent belief in Helen’s potential, saying, “I can’t do it for you, but I can show you how. It’s up to you to make an effort.”
Helen went on to learn to read Braille, write with a special typewriter, and even speak using her voice with the help of a speech therapist.
Anne was a people builder. Helen Keller’s journey from a seemingly impossible challenge to becoming an accomplished and inspiring figure is a testament to the power of building people up.
Urge people forward to pursue God’s best.
Prompt: Who in your life is God prompting you to build up with your words? What words do they need to hear?
Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for helping me be a people builder. Amen.