Encouragement

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

– I Thessalonians 5:11 (ESV)

Paul wrote these words in the context of what our attitude should be (hopeful!) regarding the coming return of the Lord. But I believe the larger principle of general encouragement is contained within this verse.

It popped in my head a few minutes ago because I just received some great encouragement from a Christian brother. And I needed it.

I always need it, actually. Do any of you not need encouragement?

Encouragement – when spoken out of truth and not flattery – is golden. And it’s not hard to do. When spoken out of truth and not “for effect”, an encouraging word can change someone’s hour, their day, their life. It’s one of the most powerful forces on earth.

I need to encourage someone today.

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.

– Proverbs 25:11 (ESV)

4 thoughts on “Encouragement

  1. Encouragement… is golden.

    So true. Especially for a “Words of Affirmation” person like myself, I crave encouragement, and the joy I get when encouraged is pretty unparallelled. Of course, taking is one thing and giving is quite another. My hope is that I can give more than I take, but a lot of both wouldn’t hurt.

    I especially love, after Jesus is baptised by John the Baptist, the Father’s voice thundering out, “This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased.” The encouragement that Jesus must have felt after this – spurring him on into his ministry – had to have been just awesome. If nothing else, I want to pass on this kind of encouragement to my own sons and daughter. Forever and always.

    Thanks for writing stuff like this, Bill. You are a voice of encouragement over the blogsphere. I think that’s one of the reason’s I like/love just about everything you write.

  2. Oh, to be like Barnabas! To use the tongue to strengthen and embolden and build up somebody to the point that they are able to take that next step into greatness. It’s so amazingly simple, and yet so apparently difficult.

    I’m not sure if there was ever a point in time where it was different, but there is so little encouragement these days. I struggle to remember to speak the little words that mean so much to my co-workers. too often I fall back into my little self-absorbed world and forget how important these other people are! Living, breathing, moving, testaments to God’s craftsmanship.

    Why is it so much “easier” for me to tear down, than to build up? I hate to formulize it, but I would that I could speak 100 encouraging words for every one of “criticism”.

    Thank you for the post, and thanks to the commenters for the exhortation!

    If I may add one of the most encouraging verses I know of (always brings tears to my eyes):

    Matt 28:20b And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

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