Be Alert to the Importance of Commendation

Courteous and Respectful Counsel

Elihu, apparently a distant relative of Abraham, was instrumental in helping Job to get a balanced view of his relationship with God.  Elihu was courteous and respectful.  He patiently waited for his turn to speak.  And whereas Job's professed friends only found fault, Elihu, besides offering counsel, was quick to commend Job for his upright course.  He did so with warmth and with an obvious feeling of personal interest as a friend, using Job's name, unlike the others.  He politely requested:  "O Job, please hear my words, and to all my speaking do give ear."  Respectfully  putting himself in Job's place, he acknowledged:  "Look!  I am to the true God just what you are; from the clay I was shaped, I too."  And then in commendation, he said:  "If there are any words to say, make reply to me; speak, for I have taken delight in your righteousness." -Job 33:1, 6, 32.

Treating others courteously and respectfully is, in a sense, a way of commending them.   In effect, we are telling our listener, 'I consider you worthy of my attention and worthy of being treated well.'  Thus we convey a feeling of warmth and show our  personal interest in him.

Being polite and courteous means more than just following the rules of good manners is a formal way.  To reach the heart of others, our courtesy and politeness must be sincere and from the heart.  They must be an expression of genuine interest and love. 

Next time: Tactfully Giving Commendation

Watchtower, 2007

Be Alert to the Importance of Commendation

HAVE you ever heard anyone complain that his employer gives him too little commendation?  Have you possibly even complained about that yourself?  Or if you are a young person, have  you said the same thing about your parents or your teachers/

Some of these complaints are probably legitimate.  But according to one German motivational trainer, when employees make this complaint, what bothers them is not so much the lack of commendation as the lack of personal interest on the part of their boss.  At any rate, something is obviously missing.   Commendation and a feeling of personal interest are both vital if we are to enjoy satisfying relationships.

In the matter of worship, this is also true.  The Christian congregation needs to be marked by a spirit of commendation, warmth, and a feeling of personal interest.  Its members achieve and maintain such a fine condition by observing the Bible's guidelines.  Nevertheless, no matter how loving the congregation is, improvement is always possible.  With this in mind, let us consider three fine examples of offering commendation:  God's pre-Christian servant Elihu, the apostle Paul and Jesus Christ himself. 

Next time: Courteous and Respectful Counsel

Watchtower, 2007