So Powerful & Yet So Easy - Changing by Accepting

'Changing others' behavior' is a common need. As parents, we want our children to be better. As bosses, we want our staff to be better. As employees, we want to have better bosses.

The traditional or common teaching on changing others comes in this 3-step format:

1. Tell him - you must do this and not do that.
2. Threaten him - If step 1 fails to work. Follow with step 2. You better change or else...
3. Punish him. You ask for it ...

Most people will testify that the above 3 steps do not always work. Forcing people to change through fear and punishment requires 2 painful tasks - constant monitoring of behavior to check violations and then execution of the punishment. Elsewhere, we discussed that ruling with fear gets the minimum standard, just passing, type of performance. No one will want to try to do more because mistakes could be made chances of incurring the wrath are high.

We need to have a different model for changing behavior. 

• The basic principle is it begins with us.
• We must change the way we treat others if we want to see changes in others.

Or simply put,

• "Changing Others Starts with Changing Ourselves First". Or
• "We change first to change others"
• i.e. Changing our attitudes and our behavior towards others first. It starts with our acceptance of them as they are first.

“If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change. As a man changes his own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him. ... We need not wait to see what others do.”  -- Gandhi

The Story of Zacchaeus Luke 19:1-10.

Please click to above link to read the short story.

Jesus only said, "Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today."

And Zacchaeus declared in public (the hearer will make sure Zacchaeus does as he claims) "Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold."

The change in Zacchaeus most amazing and drastic

1. giving away half of his goods (He is a rich man to start with v2)
2. admission of guilt and restitution, 400% instead of 120% as required in Num 5:7.

What is the key that triggers Zacchaeus' transformation?

I think the key is acceptance.

Acceptance into the inner group; in this case, Jesus' group. All of us have the need to be accepted into a group that we want to join.

Zacchaeus had heard of Jesus, his teaching, and the works of miracles. Will such a Rabbi accept him? He was working for Romans (the enemy) as Chief tax collector v2 and was rejected by his people as a sinner v7.

Jesus did not 'tell' or point out any of his sins.
Jesus accepted him before any of Zacchaeus' confession of sins.
He admitted his sins and promised to make 4 times the amount of restitution.
In this case, we find:

Acceptance brings Transformation!

Acceptance of the person establishes the starting ground for change. Most often, they know right and wrong and they will change.

Even if they don't. There is a common ground to engage and create awareness for change. This will be the next post on "Changing Others".

Acceptance of a person is not condoning his bad behavior. It is the signal that he as a person is worthy of love. His bad lifestyle can change later. The love is unconditional to be true love. Conditional love is not love but a business transaction of earning it by good behavior. Jesus Christ saved us while we were yet sinners. A person is greater than his bad behavior. A realization of being unconditionally loved does not lead to greater freedom to sin more but strangely, it brings conviction and staying away from sins. A purified soul is now more sensitive to the dirt and stink of sins!

Show to our children and staff that we accept them first, in spite of, the failures. Then we can truly help them in the change for the better.

Zacchaeus' change was so immediate and wonderful. We thank God that such changes are common. Yet, there are other people that are touched differently.

Stay tuned for more on "Changing Others".

• Need to clarify that "Changing Others" is not about changing others to suit us but to help them to become the very best they could be rather than be trapped in pains or rejections or depression.
• A better title suggested by Guan Hock Teo is "Helping Others in their darkest hour"

Next: Creating Awareness For Change - Must do it Rightly...