“He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.” -Acts 11:24
If you read about Barnabas in the book of Acts, you learn that he is known for being an encourager. He is known for his good nature. He is a person who the early believers love and want to be around because of his ability to lift others up spiritually. In fact, we are told in the fourth chapter of Acts that his name literally means “son of encouragement.”
What this indicates is that Barnabas possesses a God-given ability of helping people see the bright side of their situations, no matter how dire they may seem at the time, that he is known for doing this wherever he goes. A great example is how many commentators believe that Barnabas is responsible for encouraging the apostle Paul at a critical time in his life, during a time when he is facing rejection among the leaders of the early church. We read of how Barnabas comes to the rescue and convinces them that Jesus Christ has changed Paul’s life and has called him to be an ambassador for him.
This act of encouragement on behalf of Barnabas must have worked, as the apostle Paul becomes emboldened as a result. We read in Acts of how he is later used to plant numerous churches throughout the known world. In addition, Paul becomes the human author of God-breathed Scripture, letters that make up a significant portion of our New Testament. It appears that Barnabas’ gift of encouragement was a powerful instrument in moving the church forward in the world.
Have you ever benefited from such encouragement in your life, perhaps at a critical time? Has the Lord ever sent an encourager to intersect your path, someone who helped you believe that God was present in whatever you were facing, that he loved you, and that he had a plan? Has God ever blessed you with someone to lift you up during such times?
As Christians, we can all benefit from encouragement in a world that too often points out the negative. As followers of Christ, we sometimes desperately need these individuals who will serve as gentle reminders of the presence, plan, and power of God. The body of Christ needs more encouragers, individuals like Barnabas, good people who will remind us that God is “for us” and not “against us.”
Are you such a person? Are you a Barnabas? If so, do not underestimate your gifting. You never know what it may contribute to a person’s life or to the kingdom of God. If God has given you this gift, it is powerful! Consider the root of the word “encourage.” Its root is “courage.” Which means that we “en-courage” someone, we are the instrument God is using to supply that individual with spiritual power! When we lift someone out of the dumps by encouraging them, we reverse the effects and damage of discouragement, and the result is life and power!
So, if you are an encourager, keep using your gift! The body and kingdom of Christ need you. Countless lives need you. Your gift can help change the world for our Savior! Can you be a Barnabas to someone this week? Is God leading you to encourage another believer?