Saturday, June 14, 2008
Week One--June 16--Home to Harmony
In a Q & A on his web site at http://philipgulleybooks.com, Phil is asked, "What do you feel is the most important quality in a person?" His answer: "Tact." Do you agree? What other personal qualities would be particularly important in a person, especially if they serve in the ministry?
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10 comments:
I believe integrity is a better quality than tact. While caring about the feelings of others is very important, doing what is right despite how others will feel is more honorable.
i completely agre with kathy...integrity is a far more importnat than tact. it is wonderful to treat people tactfullly, but one must also being willing to stand for the truth...for the right thing...for speaking out against injustice, evil, etc.
I agree with these two ladies integrity above all other character traits is necessary in ministry. If you can not be honest with yourself, God and others people will see right through you.
Phil's answer is surprising, but the more I think about it, he's on to something. I've dealt very closely with a couple people who lack a sense of tact and it can be very disengaging. It's a given if someone is in the ministry that they love God. But to share God we need to reflect His love and peace, making others want to know what is 'different' about us. But if someone lacks tact and comes across as insensitive, offensive or holier-than-thou, their efforts to share God will likely be ineffective.
I'm going to say patience is the most important quality.
I think there are several important qualities in a person: integrity, honesty, tact, empathy and respectfulness to others and oneself. I think these are extremely important to those in the ministry. Nailing down the most important quality is a tough one, but I have to say respectfulness...it almost includes all of the others. If you respect yourself and others, all of the other qualities will shine through.
I believe the most important quality is love. Not romantic love, but love for all other people. Sometimes you need to be tactful and keep something to yourself, other times you need to be honest, even if it may hurt someone else a little (like when Sam confronted Uly about his drinking). If you act out of love for the other person, you will make the right choice.
I think the word tact just shows the humor of the author. I think the most important quality of a minister and any person is integrity. Tact is how you deliver a message or advice, but integrity is delivering it honestly and without leaving details out. Integrity is being open, transparent and vulnerable, so that others can see your heart.
Empathy
Brent Pittman
Wow! What an insightful way to describe the how and why, Chris. For many of us (me in particular) tact is a critically important quality, and one of the most difficult for me to practice. Fundamentally, I think tact is your approach when you truly respect and value the people around you.
I do agree that all of the qualities listed above are of great value, I believe that compassion for your fellow man is the most important.
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