One of the things Zig Ziglar used to say in his motivational messages was that too many people look for the worst in others as if there was a reward for finding it. Instead, he would challenge his audience to begin looking for the good in people. We should be good-finders, not fault-finders Ziglar would say. Some of us might not understand how important that it.
It's easy to look at people the way they appear to be. We have in our mental folders certain images filed away and catalogued. We form immediate beliefs about individuals we've never met based upon those images. Too often, that allows us to overlook aspects about that person's character or personality that may not be immediately seen. That leads to incorrect assumptions about the value of the individual. That is why we are told in the Bible that we are not to judge on outward appearances. Jesus judges the heart of the individual. He sees us as what we can become, not what we are currently. If we want to lift others up we must learn to do the same.
One of the keys of developing people is to begin seeing them not as they are or even as other people see them, but to see them for what they can be. Every person has potential. Perhaps that potential has been buried under a lot of bad decisions on their part, but it's there. Sometimes it only takes a word of encouragement to bring that potential to the surface. Maybe all it takes it someone affirming that potential to give someone the courage to try.
When I became pastor of the first church I served it had been in decline for a number of years. It had little money, few people and no vision. In a few years I suggested we carpet the old wood flooring in the church. The cost was not huge, but it took a year to raise the money. The carpet looked so nice it made the wooden pews look bad plus they weren't very comfortable. We looked into covering and padding the pews which, surprisingly, cost the same as the carpet. But, this time we raised the money in only a few months. Little successes built upon one another, and within a short period of time our congregation began to feel that they could accomplish bigger things which it did. All that time I kept telling them that I had more confidence in them than many of them had in themselves. They could tell I really meant what I was saying. We began to live up to our potential.
I believe it is natural for many of us to live up to the expectations others have for us. That's why it's so dangerous to speak negatively to our children. There is many an adult today who cannot get those negative messages they heard as a child out of his or her mind, and those negative messages keep them from moving forward in their lives. Such people need someone to enter their lives and speak words of encouragement to them.
One Sunday I sat in a worship service and heard the pastor browbeat the congregation for 45 minutes. I almost walked out. Later, while talking to a member of the church, I was told that this was a weekly occurrence. The people sitting in our pews are beaten up by life six days a week. They don't need it again when they go to church on the seventh day. We can preach the Word of God with authority without beating on people. Let's remember that Jesus spoke words of comfort and healing to the masses while saving his strongest words for the religious leaders who abused the people.
I want to be a Barnabas, one who encourages others and helps them live up the potential God has placed within them. I want my ministry to be one that helps people find a relationship with Jesus Christ that will offer them forgiveness and healing. I want to see the good in people and help them see that same good in themselves.
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