ALTHOUGH THERE IS time and place for caring intervention between Christians, no one has the right or duty to “mote hunt” (Matthew 7:1-5)…

Christians are to look at others through caring eyes. Traits first perceived as negative may be positive when examined in the light of love. Without being naive, encouragers should make it a habit to put the best possible construction on any situation. The discourager sees John as stubborn, but the encourager considers him persistent and determined. The critic sees Jane as bossy, but the consoler sees her as an assertive person who gets results. The faultfinder says Bob talks too much, bu the the positive person says he is outgoing and friendly, a real people person.

A discourager is like a doctor with a poor bedside manner. Rather than seeing a patient, he sees a diagnosis or a source of income. Impersonal physicians can heal sick bodies, but they fail miserably in treating the fear, anxiety and loneliness that ails their clientele. In contrast, a good doctor sees each patient as a friend and treats the whole person. Encouragers see people while complainers only see problems. Aubrey Johnson in The Barnabas Factor, 70

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

Mike Benson