by David Scott Robertson
“And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement, a Levite of the country of Cyprus…” Acts 4:36 NKJV
Everybody needs a Joses in their life.
Everybody needs a “Son of Encouragement”
To help spur them on toward love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24-25).
I have yet to meet the Christian worker who is so hyper-spiritual
That he or she does not, at times, need encouragement.
Encouragement is powerful.
It is potent.
It is a powerful and potent motivator.
Just a dash of it,
A touch of it,
A pinch of it,
A few careful but kind words
Can be the catalyst for explosive production,
Incredible bursts of productivity,
And change that is so positive it is staggering.
And blessed is the man or woman, boy or girl, through whom it comes.
Joses knew the potential of encouragement.
Joses obviously had discovered that
Words fitly spoken are like apples of gold in pitchers of silver (Proverbs 25:11).
Joses knew that you catch more flies with honey than vinegar.
Joses knew that if you can’t say something nice don’t say anything at all.
Joses knew that sowing discord among the brethren made the list of the seven things God hates (Proverbs 6:16-19).
Joses knew the power of the tongue.
The apostles whom Joses apparently spent regular time with
Recognized in this lay person a gift that they evidently did not possess themselves.
Instead of being nicknamed “Sons of Thunder” like the apostles James and John by Jesus,
Joses’ ability to encourage earned him the nickname Barnabas or “Son of Encouragement.”
And please note that Barnabas did not only encourage with words alone.
He put his money where his mouth was.
“…[Joses] having land sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet” Acts 4:37.
Barnabas encouraged the apostles
With a generous and intensely practical gift.
The spiritual math on this looks something like this:
GOOD WORDS
+ GOOD WORKS
--------------------
= GOOD REPUTATION
Now Abraham is known as the father of faith.
King David was a man after God’s own heart.
Solomon was the wisest man who ever lived.
Enoch had the testimony that he pleased God and God took him to heaven alive.
Paul wrote much of the New Testament.
Peter’s shadow drew crowds of sick folk to be healed.
Elijah’s words stopped rain for three years.
These are all splendid examples of mighty men of God
Who we read about in the Bible and perhaps aspire to be like.
Unfortunately for some of us,
The sheer magnitude of their exploits can be intimidating
As often the perception is that these biblical figures
Possess characteristics about them that are hard to reproduce in these modern times.
But Barnabas is a guy that we can relate to.
He seems to be one of us.
He’s a fellow that probably had a firm handshake,
A positive attitude,
Quick to laugh,
Smiled a lot and was a good listener.
These are characteristics that I can wrap my mind around.
With the help of the Holy Spirit,
I can see myself imitating Barnabas.
We too can determine that we are going to allow the Lord to make us encouragers.
And we can start the moment we finish reading this today.
The next person we call, email, or meet face-to-face
Can be the first of many persons to whom we will endeavor to somehow encourage
Through uplifting words or practical works.
On our pathway towards being like Jesus Christ,
Practicing to be like Barnabas may be a good start.
“An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up” (Proverbs 12:25 NIV).
DSR
11/28/01