Written by Have you ever been a disappointment to your family and friends? When it has been made clear to everyone that you are not the man or woman which your parents raised you to be, it is easy to feel shame. It is precisely at such moments, and while dealing with these kinds of circumstances, that we need someone to come to our side and offer us encouragement.
Individuals who come to the aid of someone they see to be in moral distress are encouragers. The great encourager in the New Testament is Barnabas, and the two most notable recipients of his encouragement are Paul and John Mark. Paul (formerly Saul) was an outsider to the church. John Mark was a church kid.
We first meet Saul in Acts holding the coats of those who are stoning Stephen, and, lest we think that Saul might have been pressed into this service against his will, Dr. Luke informs us that Saul approved of Stephen’s execution.
Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep. And Saul was there, giving approval to his death. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison. Acts 7:58b-8:1
Little wonder that when Paul was converted, few Christians rushed to his side to rejoice. Most Christians were happy to fellowship with their new brother Paul from a safe distance. Barnabas, however, was going to Paul and then taking him and making introductions on his behalf.
When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus. Acts 9:26-27
When the church in Jerusalem needed someone to go and investigate what was happening in the church at Antioch, they quite naturally chose to send Barnabas. On his way Barnabas chose to go out of his way to Tarsus and look for Saul first.
Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, Acts 11:25
Notice that being an encourager to Saul required Barnabas to go out of his way. This is why there are so few encouragers. With our hustle and bustle lifestyles too few of us take the time and go to the trouble to encourage others, particularly those who appear as risky to us as Paul appeared to be to the early church. Each of us needs someone who will go out of their way to come and look for us. Barnabas went about 100 miles out of his way to find Paul. The distance you need to travel to encourage someone today may be much less. Perhaps you need only to go down the hall to your child’s room. There may be emotional distance you need to cross to encourage your spouse.
If you would like someone to encourage you, why not start by being an encourager to someone who God places in your path today?
Encouragement comes when we put our own prejudice aside and allow the Holy Spirit to speak through us. It can be somewhat interesting when you find yourself encouraging someone you’d never talk to in the first place.
Good words from the Word, Warner.