Beyond "Nice": What it Truly Means to Be a "Son of Encouragement"

 

We often mistake "encouragement" for a simple "like" on social media or a polite nod in the church foyer. But if we look at the life of a man named Joseph—better known by his nickname, Barnabas—we see that biblical encouragement is something much more radical. It is a sacrificial, risk-taking, life-altering ministry.

In Acts 4:36-37, we are introduced to the man who would become the "gold standard" for what it means to build up the Body of Christ.

"Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means ‘son of encouragement’), sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet."

How can we move beyond being merely "polite" and start being a "Barnabas" to those around us? Here are three ways to cultivate the heart of an encourager.

1. Encouragement Starts with Your Hands, Not Just Your Lips

It is telling that the very first thing the Bible records about the "Son of Encouragement" is a financial transaction. Barnabas didn't just offer a "good word" to the poor in Jerusalem; he offered his resources.

In a conservative Christian walk, we understand that stewardship is a form of worship. Barnabas, a Levite, held a position of spiritual honor, yet he didn't let his status keep him from the practical work of sacrifice.

The Lesson: You cannot truly encourage someone while remaining tightly clenched around your own comfort. Whether it’s your time, your finances, or your emotional energy, encouragement requires a "sold field." It requires us to lay something down so that someone else can be lifted up.

2. Seeing the "New Creation" in Others

One of the most powerful moments in the New Testament occurs when the Apostle Paul (then still known as Saul) tries to join the disciples in Jerusalem. The Church was, understandably, terrified. This was the man who had overseen the execution of Stephen!

But Acts 9:27 tells us that Barnabas "took him and brought him to the apostles."

Barnabas saw what others couldn't: The transformative power of the Gospel. He was willing to risk his own reputation to stand beside a man everyone else wanted to avoid.

Being an encourager means:

 * Looking past a person’s reputation to see their potential in Christ.

 * Offering a hand to the "outsider" or the new believer who doesn't quite fit in yet.

 * Believing that God’s grace is bigger than a person’s past.

3. The "Daily" Ministry of Strengthening

The Greek word for encouragement, parakaleo, literally means "to call to one’s side." It’s the same root word used for the Holy Spirit. When we encourage, we are quite literally doing "Spirit-work."

Hebrews 3:13 gives us our marching orders: "But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called ‘Today,’ so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness."

Encouragement is the primary weapon against the "hardening" of the heart. The world is a cold place; it is the job of the Church to be the warmth that keeps our brothers and sisters pliable and faithful to the Lord.

The Barnabas Challenge

Being a "Son or Daughter of Encouragement" isn't a spiritual gift reserved for a select few; it is a calling for every believer. This week, I challenge you to look for your "field" to sell or your "Saul" to advocate for.

Who in your life is one discouragement away from giving up? Go to their side. Be the Barnabas they need.

Keyword: Biblical Examples of Encouragement

 * Paul (Saul of Tarsus): The primary beneficiary of Barnabas’s advocacy; he went from a feared persecutor to the greatest missionary in history because someone was willing to vouch for him.

 * John Mark: After failing on a previous mission trip, John Mark was given a second chance by Barnabas (Acts 15:37-39). Because of that encouragement, he eventually wrote the Gospel of Mark and became "useful" to Paul’s ministry.

DMMc

2-4-26