Encourager or Downer?

Encouragement. Everyone likes to receive it! The Bible has much to say on the subject. Are you an encourager or a downer? Encouragement! Is that just a neat personality trait that some folks have and others don't? Is 'encouragement' a spiritual thing or just a pleasantries habit?

Barnabas is the primary example of an encourager in scripture. In fact this native of Cyprus was known as a Son of Encouragement (Acts 4:36). To be a proper encourager, one must be a Christian. What's the possibility that you might be renamed by your friends as 'daughter (or son) of encouragement?'

Barnabas is described as such in Acts 11:24. His first recorded encouragement was an act, not a word. Yet his action spoke words of inspiration (a basic meaning of encouragement) to the apostles. In Acts 4:37 we read of his voluntarily selling his land and giving the money to the church for use in the proclamation of the Gospel. Here we see that we can inspire others by our own actions.

We also strengthen one another by our spoken words. Barnabas again is a primary example. Sometime after the persecutor Saul’s conversion, he sought to join the disciples in Jerusalem. They were too fearful to embrace him as a Christian, fearful that his desired inclusion was only a ploy for further persecution. Faithful Barnabas took the initiative and introduced him to the disciples. (Acts 9:27) Later, when Barnabas was sent to Antioch, he soon sought recently converted Saul to join him in the work. This subsequently, led in God’s providence, to Paul and Barnabas being sent out on a missionary journey to Cyprus and beyond. In these journeys God raised Paul (formerly named Saul) to a place of prominence in his labors as a church planter, proclaimer of truth and an evangelist. When God brings His encouragement into your life and you let it overflow into someone else’s life, you're really sending that person encouragement from God.

Have you ever been around someone who's a 'downer?' When I'm with a pessimist, it's very draining for me--it takes an awful lot of energy to maintain a positive perspective and to continue to see that many, many good things are happening in life all the time. God can take any bad situation and turn it into good. Just read about Joseph’s life in Gensis, Chapters 39-45. Do you know someone who is encouraging, inspiring and gracious? Whose company do you prefer? When we're most discouraged, that just might be the time God wants us to lift somebody else up.

How does one change from being numbered among the downers and become a gracious, inspiring encourager? Change your focus. If you are a “downer”, you are focused on yourself. When you become an encourager, you are focused on other people.

Your homework:
Who do you most want to encourage this year? Name 2 or more people who God has called you to be their Encourager


What’s next:
For the next three months or so, CLASSE ladies will begin a series on encouraging one another. Click here to begin the first lesson.

CLASSE Lady, share your thoughts