Barnabas

Acts 4:36-37

36 And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus, 37 having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

The American spirit is the idea of the Lone Ranger or One-person against the world. This idea makes for a good movie but in reality, makes for burn out. God Created us to be in relationship. In Genesis 2:18, ‘And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.”’ Even in the two greatest commandments in Matthew 22:37-39, we see relationship.

37 Jesus said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

We need encouragement. One of the tools of Satan is to isolate believers and then to whisper lies. He tells us ‘we are all alone’ or ‘that no one cares’. These are discouraging. We all need a Barnabas, a son of encouragement. Someone who gives of themselves. We also need to be that person in someone else’s life. In order to be that encouragement, we have to be in relationship. We have to know what people are dealing with. We must be willing to deal with messy. We also must be comfortable or least willing to not always have the answer but be willing just to sit with and be present as someone struggles. This is what it means to be an encourager. Paul, as he writes 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus, is being an encourager to young pastors. Johnathan was David’s encourager in 1st Samuel. We all need encouragement in life. Who has God placed in your life to encourage today? Take time this afternoon to send a message and encourage someone around you.