Sons and Daughters of Encouragement

Acts 4:36-37

When we were children in elementary and middle school, we had a bad habit of giving teachers names – depending on their mannerisms, appearance or something.  It was such a common thing that I didn’t know the actual names of some teachers. Now I realize that we were not the first ones to do this. There is actually a Biblical precedent – but in a positive way.

Because of his character, Joseph was given a new name, it is a name that most Bible readers are familiar with, yet it was not his original name.

Acts 4:36-37 ³⁶ Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement), ³⁷ sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles' feet.

We leave in a world that is desperate for encouragement. From young children to very old seniors, from house wives to presidents of nations, everyone needs encouragement. In a world where negative criticism and slander is commonplace, we are hungry for sons and daughters of encouragement. We need a person in our lives to remind and encourage us to hold on, when we are about to give up. When we feel we have come to the end of our rope, we need people to encourage us to “tie the knot and hang on.” A person to tell us "Don't be discouraged. It's often the last key in the bunch that opens the lock.” And you are that person.

Encouragement is a proactive habit. We do not wait until people call upon us and then we encourage them but and encourager is always sensitive to what needs there are and what she can do to be of some help.

Encouragers, see hope where others see hopelessness. They see life where others see death. There are willing to give people a second chance.  They are willing to go out of their way to meet needs. We see this Barnabas again in some other place. This time it had to do with Saul (Paul) who had just become a believer in the Way of Jesus Christ. But, understandably, the old Christians did not know how to handle Saul when he tried to join them.

The bible says in Acts 9:26-27 ²⁶ 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.  ²⁷ 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.

You see, Barnabas risked everything to help this new convert, Paul. He did not judge Paul according to his past but from his transformed present and potential future. Like Henry Ford said, "My best friend is the one who brings out the best in me."The church desperately needs sons and daughters of encouragement. Someone described the church as a hospital, where we all come with our sicknesses, wounds, failures, and weaknesses. More than anything we need an encourager.  People are longing for people who can listen to what they say, and more importantly listen to what they don’t say.

When the church was in need of people to encourage and teach them in the Way of Lord, who did the Apostles send? It was Barnabas.

Acts 11:22-26 ²² News of this reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch.  ²³ When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts.  ²⁴ He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.  ²⁵ Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, ²⁶ and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.

Hebrews 3:13   ¹³ But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.

God is calling us to be sons and daughters of encouragement. Make it your goal to encourage someone this week. You could write a card to your workmate who has been good to you. You could send a note of encouragement to someone who is sick, telling him that he is in your thoughts and prayers. It could be a hug to that lonely somebody that you notice – may be a kid in your class. Pray that God will open your spiritual eyes to the people in need of encouragement around you. Choose to be a son or daughter of encouragement this week.