Are You Becoming an Attractive Person?

What makes a person attractive?  On one level one might  immediately speak of physical beauty.  And–on a certain level–that is a kind of attractiveness that is very real.

However, I want to suggest that we might want to pay attention to another kind of attractiveness. 

What causes us to be drawn to certain people?  What quality of Christ likeness do we experience in other people that we often find so refreshing?  What is that quality that makes us want to spend time with certain people?

Maybe–just maybe–that quality is generosity.  

There are some people who display the grace of God by their generosity.  Don’t you find generous people attractive?

People who are generous with appreciation.  These people are constantly thanking people.  They thank the waitress, the person at the cleaners, the grocery story check out clerk, the person serving the Wednesday PM meal at church.  They thank their child’s coach and teacher.  These people take no one for granted.  They send thank you notes, e-mails, and leave thankful voice messages.  They thank and thank.

People who are generous with encouragement.  I know so many people who are just starved for a word of encouragement.  They work hard and contribute.  They are very conscientious.  Yet, they hear no "atta-boy" or no "atta-girl."  Instead these people often have to deal with criticism of those who have done nothing to help.  It is tough to hear no encouragement and to instead hear criticism.  No wonder!  No wonder people are attracted to an encourager like a thirsty person whose parched lips just want water.  Encouragers are very refreshing!

People who are generous with money.  I don’t mean acts of great philanthropy.  I am speaking of people who use what they have for another’s benefit.  I am talking about people who are ready to help a neighbor who had been burned out in a fire.  When the people at work take up a collection for a single mother who has cancer, they are the first to give.

What about you?  When people think of you, do they think of a grateful person?  Do they think of an encourager?  Do they think of person who displays the grace of God?