Most of us would acknowledge the power of a word of encouragement or praise. An atta' girl or boy can be just what a coworker or family member needs to get through a rough day. We recognize that a small favor for or going the extra mile for someone is a good thing. But Paul eludes to something much deeper than this.
In today's verse, the word "build" caught my attention. At some time in our lives, most of us have been impressed by all the goings on at a construction site. Whether it is the stories-high crane, the size of the earth movers being used, or the question "I wonder what that is going to be? They should have to put up a sign that tells us.", we all take note of new construction.
The successful construction of a structure takes planning, time, and materials. Much the same way we use our deeds and words to build up those in our sphere of influence. While the sporadic text of "have a great day" or voice mail "good luck with your test" are important, Paul's word choice "build" speaks to a long-term, intentional process.
Do I offer specific, consistent encouraging words to Seth? How often do I fold the laundry that I didn't put in the dryer? Do I celebrate Kristi's spiritual growth by engaging her in discussions and seeking her words of advice?
The Golden Gate Bridge took over four years to build. There are over 80,000 miles of cable suspending the roadway from the waters below. The two anchorage towers on each end, the Marin Tower and the San Francisco tower, each contain approximately 600,000 rivets.
Construction takes time. It is not the casual toss of a compliment every now and then. Construction is intentional and ongoing.
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