Baz Gascoyne comments on negativity and encouragement

Baz Gascoyne

What type of person are you? A person who sees the glass half empty or half full?

I know that if I am not careful I can easily become one of the half empty clan. Why? I am not sure, but I do know I do not like being this way and try to make a conscious effort not to be. When I spend a lot of time with people who are negative I feel drained, so I do not want to do the same to others.

I don't know about you but I have to limit my time with people who always find a negative slant on everything.

"Lovely day today," "Yes but its going to rain later." "Oh right, thanks for letting me know!!"

Here in the UK you can ask someone "Hi how are you?" and their reply will frequently be "Not Bad." Not bad, but not good either. So what are they then?

They are people who need a good dose of encouragement. As a Church leader I often grin to myself when I am in a group of other Church leaders or people in full time Christian ministry. Why? Probably because we are the most insecure people on the earth. Comparing our Churches or Ministries with the other leaders, dreading the question "How's the Church going?" Whilst the enquirer prays quietly under his breath "Please God don't let it be as big as mine." Ministry and gifting can, and does, easily become our security rather than who God wants us to be. Secure in the fact that we are His children and loved by Him. Not for what we do but who we are.

The most needed gift and least sought after, in the body of Christ today is the gift of encouragement. You very rarely hear someone reply "I'm an encourager" when asked what's your gift?

Let's be people even today who always look to find the good in others and want to encourage them, this is a person who sees the glass half full rather than half empty.

Which are you? A half empty or half full person?