Encourage one another

Hebrews 3:13 (NIV)

But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. 

I Thessalonians 5:11 (NASB)

Therefore, encourage one another, and build up one another…..

We have this huge contradiction--how important it is that people feel encouraged, that being encouraged is one of the best things that can ever happen to us, how much is written (and commanded) in Scripture about the importance and power of encouragement.  Encouraging one another is the main biblical reason why we attend church (Hebrews 10:25)!  YET, so few people feel encouraged and so few people offer encouragement to others and, in fact, much of what is said between one person and another borders more being discouraging than encouraging!

The lack of encouragement in our society is an epidemic.  When was the last time that someone offered you encouragement?  When was the last time that you offered encouragement?  We are fallen human beings!  We tend to discourage more than encourage either directly through words or actions or indirectly by not saying or doing anything.  We concentrate on others’ weaknesses and faults rather than their strengths.  We tend to want to tear others down rather than build up. 

Encourage means to inspire with confidence; to stimulate to action by assisting and supporting; to make another feel special, to transmit trust, to challenge another to be the best he or she can be.  The Greek word for encourage means to help, to comfort, to set free so that a person can move forward and realize his or her potential. God has commanded His people through the Scriptures to encourage one another:  Encouragement is mentioned 63 times in Scripture, two of which are listed above. 

Words of encouragement:

·  Should be intentional as Barnabas’ intentional encouragement of Paul that can be read in several places in the book of Acts (e.g. Acts 9:26-27).

·  Should be timely and on the mark—Proverbs 25:11[1]

·  Should not be withheld…..follow the commands of Hebrews 3:13 and I Thessalonians 5:11.

Are you an encourager?  Do you want to become a greater encourager?  Criticism, condemnation, sarcasm, humiliation, hostility, pity, ridicule, shame - come so naturally to our lips.  But how about encouragement?   Do you encourage your children or grandchildren, your spouse, your friends, neighbors, and co-workers, and your brothers and sisters in Christ?  Do your best to encourage someone every day for the rest of your life.  And see if not such encouragement comes back to you.

“Kind words can be short and easy, but their echoes are truly endless” -- Mother Teresa

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[1] I will never forget a man sharing with me years after the fact that I had written him a thank you letter for what a great influence he had been to my two sons as a youth sports coach.  He told me that at the time he received my letter he was contemplating suicide because he felt that his life was meaningless (he was not a believer then).  He claimed that my letter was so encouraging to him that he gave up the thought of suicide and decided to change the course of his life.  Words of encouragement can save a life…..literally!