“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”
I Thessalonians 5:11
I love to hang out with people who are encouragers.
The reason should be obvious.
Encouragers are nice to be around and, after all, who doesn’t need to be encouraged every now and then?
That got me to thinking about the difference between an encourager and a flatterer.
To encourage someone is to give courage, hope or confidence to, but flattery, on the other hand, is to try to ingratiate oneself, please or get the favor of, by praise and attention.
In other words, encouragers have a genuine interest in the other person while flatterers are self-centered and out to manipulate for their own advantage.
We are called to encourage others, never to flatter.
Encouragement is so often private, flattery, however, is most effective when it is public.
As we continue to look at ways we can love as Christ did, we must step out and become encouragers.
Barnabas, whose name means ‘son of consolation’ is often held up in scripture (and rightfully so) as an encourager.
Listen to this description of Barnabas from Acts 11:23-24:
“When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.” Encouragers lives and words will point people to Christ.
It is most often done, not with a trumpet blast of attention but, as a whispered word of hope and courage.
Here is a challenge for you today.
Actively, look for opportunities to be an encourager.
Don’t seek fanfare or congratulations in the process of carrying out Gods’ will.
Just seek to build others up in their faith or encourage those who have not yet surrendered their lives to Christ.
Be an encourager!
I Thessalonians 5:11
I love to hang out with people who are encouragers.
The reason should be obvious.
Encouragers are nice to be around and, after all, who doesn’t need to be encouraged every now and then?
That got me to thinking about the difference between an encourager and a flatterer.
To encourage someone is to give courage, hope or confidence to, but flattery, on the other hand, is to try to ingratiate oneself, please or get the favor of, by praise and attention.
In other words, encouragers have a genuine interest in the other person while flatterers are self-centered and out to manipulate for their own advantage.
We are called to encourage others, never to flatter.
Encouragement is so often private, flattery, however, is most effective when it is public.
As we continue to look at ways we can love as Christ did, we must step out and become encouragers.
Barnabas, whose name means ‘son of consolation’ is often held up in scripture (and rightfully so) as an encourager.
Listen to this description of Barnabas from Acts 11:23-24:
“When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.” Encouragers lives and words will point people to Christ.
It is most often done, not with a trumpet blast of attention but, as a whispered word of hope and courage.
Here is a challenge for you today.
Actively, look for opportunities to be an encourager.
Don’t seek fanfare or congratulations in the process of carrying out Gods’ will.
Just seek to build others up in their faith or encourage those who have not yet surrendered their lives to Christ.
Be an encourager!
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