During this season of life called grad school, a person can easily get discouraged. Lately, I have been asking myself some hard questions about what encouragement means. Funny how this chapter, I had to read for homework, answered all my questions.
Thank you, Mahaney, for writing a book about humility. With your simple, yet insightful, style of writing, you have challenged me to look and practice humility in a different way.
What does it mean to encourage or edify?
"To effectively encourage or edify a person I must know something about that individual, which comes through studying that person, asking questions, and carefully listening. That’s what we’ll do if we’re trying to truly serve others with out words and not simply impress them. From what we learn about others, we’re able to answer this question: What do they need now? Is it counsel? Exhortation? Warning? Comfort? Forgiveness? All of the above? (pg. 115)
"Appropriate and timely words that edify will very often include words that exhort, words that help others guard against sin. And we’re to speak in this way every day. It’s to be continual, not occasional—because sin is active continually, not occasionally (pg. 116).”
What does grace have to do with it?
"We’re all in need of grace. There’s no one you know who doesn’t need more of it. And God has so composed His church that when we’re together in a larger corporate gathering or in a small group or even in a casual conversation, we can both receive grace and communicate grace through the exchange of edifying and appropriate words (pg. 118).”
The challenge:
"So we have to ask ourselves: Is this the effect of my speech upon others? Is this their common experience in our conversations? Do they experience grace in and through my words? (pg. 119)”
"…where there’s an absence of edifying words there’s also normally the presence of pride and of self-righteousness, because those who are proud are too preoccupied with themselves and think too highly of themselves to care about building others up or to be sensitive to their true needs. It’s the humble who are perceptive; they’re skilled in discerning the work of God in others because they care about others and want to serve others. (pg. 121)” (Quotes taken from Humility: True Greatness)
Dang, yo.
I'll admit it was hard asking myself the questions that Mahaney stated.
"What do they need now?" How does my speech effect others? "Do they experience grace in and through my words?"
How do you encourage and edify others?
that's great wisdom. love it.
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