Are you a balcony person or a basement person?

I have to give my sister credit for sharing this illustration with me. I think it will also be useful to you. Our world has become increasingly critical. You can watch TV and watch various “experts” discuss problems and get vicious. Putting someone down for children, teenagers and adults has become an art form. You have to “dissuade” them before they “dislike” you. Saying something nice is considered weak. So the question is, are you a balcony person or a basement person? Do you, as the Balcony Person, lift, encourage, edify, and nurture people? Or you are a person from the basement. Do you knock people down, criticize them, and criticize their actions? What do you think is easier to do? What does the world teach?

As Christians, we are called to follow God’s standard, not the world’s. Let’s see what Scripture says about our speech. Ephesians 4:29, 32 says the following: “Do not let any unhealthy words come out of your mouth, but only what is useful to edify others according to their needs, to benefit those who listen. Be kind and compassionate with one another, forgiving one another, as Christ God forgave you. ” God calls us to be Balcony People, edifying others according to their needs. I have heard this verse many times in my life, but something caught my eye this time as I read the verse. The verse says build others according to your needs. For me, this does not mean empty flattery, but really knowing a person to know what to say and that can really strengthen them. We can encourage them as they grow in Christ or as they grow in other areas of their lives. We can speak God’s word to people and provide their comfort, not our own.

I have some questions for you to consider. I’ve asked myself, and honestly, I don’t always like the answers.

1. In my workplace, am I the first to be critical and find fault or do I try to find a solution?

2. Am I known as the office gossip?

3. Am I quick to judge others and be critical?

4. Do I deliberately try to cheer up my coworkers? Do I highlight your good points?

5. As a parent, are my comments to my children more negative than positive? Am I always in them?

6. As a parent, do I find opportunities to encourage and encourage my children?

7. As a Christian friend, am I quick to point out sin in other people’s lives or encourage them as a sister in Christ?

8. How would others describe me? Am I a person from the balcony or a person from the basement?

9. Am I encouraging my children to choose to be Balcony people according to the Scriptures?

10. Are my children’s friends people from the balcony or basement? Remember that our children are greatly affected by their peers.

The pull of the world is strong. The world says beat people down. Only weak people say kind things to others. You don’t want to be perceived as a “brown nose.” The bottom line is that as Christians our guide is the Bible and the Bible is clear on how we should interact with others. We must build them and not tear them down. Our sin nature is quick to judge. As Christians, we are new creatures in Christ. We are called saints in Ephesians. Only with the power of God and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit can we change our selfish nature for one that is Christ’s. So can I encourage you to trust in the power of God to transform you into a Balcony person and bring those around you to see the view? Not in a high and powerful way, but so that we see others as God’s holy creation. We are created in his likeness. So when we look down on others, we are literally looking down on God.

May we all live to become more like Christ and lift others up.