Jump Start # 1959

1 Thessalonians 5:11 “Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.”

Encouragement is a vital and key component of our relationship with one another. One writer called encouragement, “oxygen for the soul.” Let’s take a look at encouragement.

First, everyone needs encouragement. Some are naturally more upbeat and positive than others, yet they too, need encouragement. The journey can be long. The weight and responsibility that some carry is heavy. Some are so busy encouraging others, that their bucket runs empty. It’s easy to see some who need encouragement. The young in faith need it to keep going. Those going through tough times need it. There are those who are dealing with long health issues and they need encouragement. There are families that have prodigals and that has broken their hearts. But preachers also need encouragement. Shepherds need encouragement. There really isn’t anyone that doesn’t need it from time to time.

Second, encouragement lets others know that they are not alone. That is one of the catastrophic results of discouragement. A person feels alone. The problems seem so great. The nights seem so long. Whispers that no one cares fills the heart. A person can feel alone in a church full of people. The darkness of discouragement can crush a person. Encouragement is more than nice words, it’s presence. It’s being there. It’s sitting with a family in the surgery waiting room. It’s showing up at the funeral home. It’s taking food to a new mom. It’s inviting a family over to the house. We are with you is the sound of encouragement. Even when wrong choices have been made, I’ve seen court rooms filled with brethren, there to support a family whose child is on trial. That is the key to our fellowship. We are “fellows” in this together. Linked in heart and arm in arm, together we weather the storms that come upon us. It may be your turn now for help, but the next time, it might be my turn. Praying together. Sitting together. That wonderful feeling that warms the heart when you see a fellow Christian walk into the room, just to sit next to you.

Third, encouragement is soul strengthening. It’s more than cute sayings and quotes that are cross stitched on pillows. Encouragement takes a person back to Christ and His word. It’s reminders. It’s promises of God that have been forgotten. It’s verses shared. It’s much more than having a brighter outlook. It’s not just optimism, it’s keeping someone on this spiritual journey that we are on. It’s staying in the spiritual fight. It’s not giving up, on God, His word, or His people. It’s helping someone realize that God is greater than our problems. It’s helping them know that our problems stay on this side of life. Encouragement is spiritual. It’s helping someone get stronger in their faith and more dedicated in their commitment to the Lord. Encouragement is Bible based.

Fourth, some are better at this than others. Some are just natural at knowing just what to say and knowing just how to say it. Some can lift the darkest spirit and find ways to pump oxygen back into that soul. Others have had to learn, watch and develop as encouragers. Learning when you have said enough. Learning when to be silent. Learning what Scriptures are really helpful to use in different situations. All of this comes from simply being encouraged and then learning to help others. What worked for you? What did others do for you? There is a time and a place for encouragement. Often, in the church building isn’t the place. Too many people. Not the right atmosphere to really help. A smile. A hug. A ‘great to see you,’ works well in the church house. But later, coming to a person’s home, with a plate full of cookies, or a warm meal, then might be the best setting to really support, comfort, remind and help someone. Walk in their shoes. It will help you think about what you ought to say. When a person is hurting, they don’t need a sermon. They don’t need fingers pointing at them in blame. When Elijah was in the cave, hiding and scared, there was a earthquake, but God wasn’t in the earthquake. There was a fire, but God wasn’t in the fire. There was a strong wind, but God wasn’t in the strong wind. Then a gentle breeze, and it was out of that, the Lord spoke to Elijah. He didn’t condemn the prophet. He didn’t scold him. He didn’t preach to him. He encouraged him. He reminded him. He helped him. The backseat driver in us says, “You should have done this instead…” Well, that’s a little late now. Here we are. We have to deal with what is before us. The blame game only adds on more guilt. It doesn’t lift the soul. It doesn’t breath oxygen into a heart that is discouraged. There is a time for the “lessons learned from all of this,” but not now. Now is the time to get a person back where they need to be. Embarrassed. Ashamed. Discouraged. Wanting to quit. This is the time to reach out, as the Lord did, and help sinking Peter, as he was walking on the water. Reach out your hand and pull a person up. Reach out your hand and be there for them. That’s what encouragement does.

Fifth, we are encouraged in different ways. For the weary preacher, it may be telling him to just take a day off. That’s hard for some of us. For others, it may be an intense process, involving many hours of going to their home and working with them. Some just need that gentle reminder. Some need loads of help. I met a man recently who was dealing with a death in the family. I told him about death merely being a door, a process that takes us into the next room. The righteous want to be in the next room. As I talked, I saw his eyes lift up and the color come back into his face. It was what he needed to hear. The pain was still there, but it wasn’t so bad. He now had hope. He had a way to express it to the rest of the family. So, our encouraging others is not one size fits all. Some need just a little. Others need a lot. For some, it’s just being there. For others, much more is required. Each of us are different and our problems are different and our faith is not at the same place. So, the encourager understands this. Each person needs different means of encouragement. It’s not one size fits all.

This is something that the world misses. The world doesn’t have this. I’ve seen the family alone in the funeral home. I’ve seen the person sitting alone in the surgery waiting room. Scared, uncertain, and without faith. For the child of God, nothing beats an amazing church that is there for them. Arm in arm, linked together in our journey, we have one another. We have each other’s back. We will not leave any upon the field. There is such warmth, hope and love with this. This is what makes a fellowship special. The closer a church becomes, the greater the help and the encouragement will be.

Our verse ends, “just as you also are doing.” The Thessalonians were encouraging. Paul was encouraging them to keep encouraging. You’re doing it. Keep it up. It’s making a difference. Don’t give up. Don’t get weary in what you are doing. You are making a difference!

We need encouragers! Can you be that? Can you do that?

Roger

Jump Start # 556

1 Thessalonians 5:11 “Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.”

One of the wonderful blessings of belonging to a church family is the dual benefits of sharing and receiving comfort and encouragement from each other. We need that. We need to be encouraged by others and we need to be encouragers to others. Encouragement keeps us in the fight and it keeps us going. When the road becomes long and hard, and the encouragement is lacking, that’s when some start dropping off. Discouragement takes over and they just don’t think they can do it anymore.

Encouragement is not something that is only found in religious settings, it’s part of life. The parents in the stands, cheering their child on, as they watch him play basketball, are encouragers. The proud celebration that comes when a child shows a parent a report card that has good grades, is encouragement. The praise of co-workers, the appreciation of bosses, the sweet compliments of a mate are all forms of encouragement and necessary to life. Encouragement is not flattery, false praise or saying things just to get something in return. Encouragement comes from the heart and it recognizes the good of others and the achievements of others. Encouragement comes from a heart that sees others. That may be one reason why people are so hungry and so needing encouragement today—everyone is so busy thinking about themselves and talking about themselves that they have quit encouraging others.

• Encouragement reminds us that others need us and are counting upon us. That’s true in a marriage, a work environment and especially in our church family.
• Encouragement is positive, uplifting, and a wonderful feeling. That’s needed. We often run on empty and can get so tired that we wonder whether our efforts are doing any good. Without encouragement many would give up and quit.

• Encouragement comes in many forms. There is not just one way to encourage. Seeing a church house full of people who are glad to be there is so encouraging. Hearing voices singing out praises to God fills the heart. Hugs and smiles are encouragers. A note, an email, even a text message, expressing appreciation can be just the thing a person needs.

• A gift, whether it’s a plant, a book, a gift card or an invitation to dinner are ways to encourage.

Paul’s thoughts in our verse are important. We need to be encouragers. We need to recognize how powerful, needful and helpful encouragement is. We’d hate to think that one among us gave up because he felt alone and all he needed was someone to encourage him. It’s easy to encourage the preacher, the elders and those who are so visible. What happens sometimes is that we forget about others. We forget about the widow, who is alone now and struggles.  She could use some attention. We forget about the teenager. His mind, hormones, and heart are spinning around all the time. He needs encouragement. He’s trying. Then there are the new people. They don’t know many people and they can feel left out. Then there are the hard working families that are solid and steady and dependable. They, too, need to be encouraged.

As a person thinks about it, there is no one that does not need encouraging. That thought ought to make us busy with ideas and ways to help each other. We need each other. We need to show that and express that. We need to pray for each other, be there for each other, and help each other.

These are the things that make a church, a family and they make it a special place. The energy, the connections, the love becomes obvious. People want to be there. People want to do things, because they come to love a church like that.

Encouragers—you can do that. One of my favorite people in the Bible is Barnabas, who got that name from the apostles, because he was “an encouraging.” He helped Saul at Jerusalem, when the folks there weren’t sure about him. He defended and supported his cousin, Mark, when Paul wasn’t sure about him anymore. He strengthened brethren. His life was a life of encouragement. He built up. He pumped air into the souls of brethren. He  was a good man who made a difference. He was an encourager.

You can do that. It doesn’t take a lot, just noticing others and helping others. It starts with your circle of association. Look among them. You’ll see those who are struggling, those who are tired, those who complain, those who are talking about giving up. Reach out. Be there. Find the gift. Write the note. Smile the smile. Give the hug. Share a passage. Encouragement doesn’t have to be big, expensive or complicated.

A while back I was preaching and another preacher was in the audience. I looked at him while I was talking, he smiled and gave me a wink. That was awesome. It was a thumb’s up. It was, “I’m with you.” It was, “keep preaching preacher.” It was what I needed. It was encouragement. I haven’t forgotten that.

We need each other and we need to let each other know that.

Roger