Proverbs 12:25 tells us that a good word makes the heart glad. When I think about this I think about the times someone has had a word of encouragement for me. A time when someone gave me a compliment. When someone praised me for an accomplishment. We tend to remember those things for a long time.
As a matter of fact, I can remember words of praise from a basketball coach from 40 years ago. I can remember words of affirmation from my grandfather from 45 years ago. I can remember my aunts and uncles always speaking life over me when I was just a child. Positive words make an impact. Now negative words do to. But positive and encouraging words can shape someone’s future for a blessed outcome.
Barnabas was given his name as a nickname in the book of Acts. That wasn’t his given name. But the apostles called him Barnabas because that name means, “son of encouragement”. Barnabas had a spiritual gift. He could be a source of encouragement to people. And let me tell you something: when you are giving your life out for people all day long—there are times you need some encouragement! There are times I preach to exhaustion. I may be in a revival meeting and preach for 2 hours, then pray for people for another hour. All in 100 degree heat wearing a suit and tie. And when done with all that I can be walking to my transportation and someone come up to me and ask for more prayer. So I pray. And then I get back to my hotel and the first thing I get in the hotel are situations back home I need to deal with. Now God has graced me for all that. But I can tell you it makes you tired. But there are certain people God put in my life to act as a Barnabas. They are the encouragers. And when I get with them I am stronger, healthier, sharper, refreshed, and of course encouraged.
The apostles of the book of Acts were some of the greatest men of God to ever walk the face of the earth. And yet they needed a Barnabas. So think about it; if they needed a Barnabas, how much more do we need a Barnabas?
And let us draw 2 conclusions from this. First, are we a source of encouragement, strength, and joy to others? Will people remember us 40 years from now for how we made them feel? For the life we spoke into them? For the power of faith we used to bring them up to a new level?
We get several opportunities every day to come into contact with people—the very people that Jesus shed His blood for. And when we have those opportunities, I encourage you to be a Barnabas. To leave an impression. To slow down, don’t be in a hurry, and ask the Lord to guide you to be a source of blessing and joy in that person’s life.
And second, we need a Barnabas. Do you know who these people are in your life? Who is it that sharpens you when you are down? Who refreshes you when you are tired? Who brings joy to your soul? These are your Barnabas’s. It is so important that when you are going through a time of trial or working until exhaustion that you know who these people are. There are some people that you know they drain you. But the Barnabas’s fill you. And be smart enough that when you are at a low point due to exhaustion or discouragement…run to the Barnabas’s and not the ones who drain the life out of you!
Love, Pastor Matt Nichols