Called To Encourage

Called To EncourageEncourage one another and build up each other, just as in fact you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 NASB What does Paul say to those who have the gift of encouragement? Do it! (Rom. 12:8). But what does He say to those of us who may not be gifted encouragers? The same thing: Do it anyway! The church at Thessalonica was under serious attack, so Paul wrote two letters to encourage and instruct them. In addition, he also sent Timothy, expressly to “strengthen and encourage” them (1 Th. 3:2). Realizing, however, that words of encouragement from afar would not keep this beleaguered gathering going from day to day, he twice encourages them to encourage each other. He was not talking only about the encouragement that comes through public ministry. He was also talking about those private words spoken to individuals to meet the need of the moment. According to Scottish Bible scholar William Barclay (1907-1978), the call to encourage each other is “one of the highest callings to godly service.” It is easy to question people’s goals. It is easy to pour cold water on their enthusiasm. It is easy to discourage them. The competitive spirit can be very discouraging, because it does not want to see another succeed. The world is so full of discouragers. What we need in our gatherings is the cooperative spirit of encouragement, and encouragers that actually come alongside to build up. We are called “to build up each other” through encouragement. We’ll never know the many times our words of kindness, praise, thanks, appreciation, or cheer - all forms of encouragement - have kept our brethren going when they otherwise would have given up. “Blessed is the man who speaks words of encouragement” says Barclay. Can the last words of the verse above - “just as in fact you are doing” - also be said of us? By Larry Ondrejack