Do you often find yourself looking for the perfect gift? Something meaningful, personal, beneficial, and fitting that doesn’t cost too much? Good news! There is something that fits these qualifications, and the best part…it’s free! What is it? A compliment. Spoken or written words of affirmation, respect, affection, admiration, or recognition.
Just think about it…there is no circumstance where a sincere compliment is inappropriate. Everyone loves a compliment (even if they may respond humbly). So, I’m just thinking, why are we not more generous with compliments? Maybe we don’t want to build others up because we are jealous of them. Perhaps we are afraid we’ll make that person become prideful. Or possibly we’re just stingy with our words. We think kind words about a person but never speak them.
I think God loves us to use compliments to encourage and build each other up. The Bible is full of compliments! For example, God compliments by commending the faithful—Noah, Abraham, and Moses. Jesus compliments by affirming acts of faith and love—the woman pouring out her perfume, the widow giving two coins, and the centurion believing in the power of Jesus’ command. Perhaps Paul is best known for his instruction to the early churches. However, introductions to his letters are full of generous compliments to those found faithful in Corinth, Colossae, Philippi, and Thessalonica.
Leaders…we ought to be generous with our compliments. As the perfect gift, they are meaningful, personal, beneficial, fitting, and free. And perhaps most importantly…they are also biblical!
“The words of the godly are a life-giving fountain” (Proverbs 10:11, NLT).
This is a great reminder. It is so easy to get caught up in the business of work and leading. Complimenting is a very simple but meaningful action that leaders must remember.