This past Sunday I preached a lesson entitled “Disciples Bear Burdens.” One of the points I made was that we bear one another’s burdens through encouragement.
In studying for the lesson, I found this great quote by author David Jeremiah.
“The body of Christ is a family whose members are to be mutually involved with one another. One of the one-other ministries God calls us to practice is the ministry of encouragement.”
The ministry of encouragement. What a great thought! And what a wonderful ministry.
Jeremiah’s comments and the events of the past couple weeks have reminded me of this little verse found in 1Thessalonians 5:11. “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.”
Our regular readers are aware of some health issues my wife, Norma Jean, has been facing, especially her surgery. (BTW, the surgery was Monday. It was successful. And she received a good report). However, in the preceding days she and I were both the recipients of much encouragement. Texts, emails, phone calls, social media posts, cards, and especially prayers emboldened us and greatly encouraged Norma.
One person from another state commented, “Thousands of people are praying for you.” I doubt that’s an exaggeration, knowing she was on the prayer list of several congregations where we have ministered through the years. Can there be any more encouraging words than, “You are in my prayers”?
Norma Jean was discharged late yesterday afternoon. When we returned home there were several get well cards in the mail box. She immediately sat down and read each one. All of these expression provided cheer, comfort, and reassurance. Indeed as another writer observed, “Encouragement is one of the most vital, yet often overlooked, ministries in the Christian faith.”
Encouragement lifts the spirits of the discouraged, strengthens those who are weary, calms those who are fearful, emboldens those who seek reassurance, and provides help and hope to remain faithful, putting our trust in the Lord Jesus Christ.
In his Daily Bible Study series, William Barclay writes that the Greek word, parakaleo, rendered ”encouragement,” was often used when sending soldiers and sailors into battle urging them to be courageous. It means to “call alongside, to comfort, to exhort, and to strengthen.” He observed that “a Parakletos is, therefore, an encourager, one who puts courage into the fainthearted, one who nerves the feeble arm for fight, one who makes a very ordinary man cope gallantly with a perilous and dangerous situation.”
As a side note, it’s interesting that this word is closely related to “Paraclete,” the name given by Jesus in John 14:26 to the Holy Spirit. Various versions render this word “Comforter,” “Helper,” or “Advocate.” Those engaged in the ministry of encouragement are a partner with the Holy Spirit in pleading another’s cause, providing guidance, offering support, and supplying solace.
The ministry of encouragement rises above a personality trait or friendly demeanor, but is a spiritual function within the Body of Christ that is a blessing, beneficial, even crucial to our Christian walk together. It finds expression and is deeply appreciated in times of sickness, suffering, sorrow, loneliness, heartbreak, doubt, and when struggling with temptation and sin.
In a world filled with despair, insolation, indifference, negativity, and criticism, the ministry of encouragement is a welcome respite. A breath of fresh air. And a spiritual shot in the arm.
Like Barnabas of old, whose name means “Son of Encouragement,” we are blessed to be in a fellowship with so many Barnabas-minded brethren.
Thank you all very much.
–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman
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