| Loving people is only a vague concept, unless we do these five things:
1) People are insecure; give them confidence. Beneath their facade lie memories of a painful past and anxiety over what's coming their way next. Tell them God says, '...I will never leave you nor forsake you' (Hebrews 13:5 NKJV). When nothing else works, God's Word does.
2) People need to feel special; compliment them. Do it when they least expect it, and it's clear you seek nothing in return. Mary Kay Ash, founder of a major cosmetics company in the USA, said, 'Everyone has an invisible sign hanging around their neck saying, "Make me feel important!"' Notice how often God's Word tells us how much He loves us, how special we are, and His plans for us.
3) People are looking for a better tomorrow; give them hope. Let them know that when you put God in the centre of your life, your future can be better than your past. '...as long as he sought the Lord, God made him prosper' (2 Chronicles 26:5 NKJV).
4) People need to be understood; listen to them. The trouble is this takes more time than we're willing to give. We're in too much of a hurry to hand out advice and move on, and it doesn't work. Before people can be 'fixed,' they must feel understood.
5) People need role models; be one. Paul told the Corinthians, 'Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ' (1 Corinthians 11:1 NIV). Too often we're unaware of the example we set and the impression we're making. Like it or not, what you do, and don't do, influences others. When you leave this world, what you leave behind is your influence. |
