Building Up

​There is a marvelous tool called StrengthsFinder 2.0.  I purchased the book and with the enclosed code answered questions on a website that then listed my top five strengths.  I have used this tool with several organizations and with my own family. The beauty of Strengthsfinder is that it reveals what people are good at doing/being.  By discovering people’s strengths I am better able to position them where they are best utilized and most satisfied.  This is fantastic for team building and for raising morale in any organization where leaders and workers previously focused on weaknesses to their own detriment.   
 

Meditation
2 Corinthians 13:10—This is why I am writing these things while absent, that when I am there I will not use severity, in keeping with the authority the Lord gave me for building up and not for tearing down.
 
I find it profound that the Lord gave the Apostle Paul authority to build up and not to tear down!   He understood that God empowered him to improve and strengthen the body of believers.  And doesn’t this make sense?  Who would not rather be encouraged, edified and improved than criticized, scolded and beat down?  But if we are honest, I wonder if we would confess that building up is rarely the ministry of choice.  

By our nature it is easier for us to point out faults in people.  We can readily disparage others when we are hurt or disappointed.  Our competitive nature gains a perverse satisfaction in noticing deficiencies in others.  If we admit it, it feels good to be the controller or corrector.  It takes more work and I would contend thoughtfulness to build others up.  Plus the results are so much more favorable and enduring. 
​
Instead of hunting for faults try hunting for successes.  Take the time to find in those around you the strengths God has built in them and exploit those strengths for everyone’s benefit.  There is an undeniable buzz created in environments where people can work out of their strengths and utilize those around them who compensate where they are weak.  Help a person find their strengths and applaud them.  Notice how Paul applies his authority in the very next verse. “Finally, brothers, rejoice.  Become mature, be encouraged, be of the same mind, be at peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you” (13:11).  
 
Inspiration
Effective executives build on strengths—their own strengths, the strengths of their superiors, colleagues, and subordinates; and on the strengths in the situation, that is, on what they can do.—Peter Drucker in The Effective Manager
 
©2013Daniel York  ARR. Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause.  If you would like to receive these devotionals go to www.firstcause.org and click on the “Click here to receive weekly devotionals” box.  Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed subject to inclusion of this copyright notice.      
 
Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth.  (Holman CSB)