Nicknames can be irritating, funny, and sometimes -- highly descriptive! A few years ago I nicknamed, Sarah, now a young lady in our church, "Eyes" when she was little, because of her big beautiful eyes that were so full of life. When I was growing up, my Dad called me "Sidekick," an old term for buddy and helper. When I was little, I loved when he introduced me to his adult friends saying, "Meet my sidekick!" It made me feel 10 feet tall! It implied that my Dad considered me his helper. Nothing was better than that. His love for me ENCOURAGED me to strive for excellence.
In the book of the Acts, we meet a man whose nickname describes a wonderful trait. Here's the verse: "...there was Joseph, the one the apostles nicknamed Barnabas (which means "Son of Encouragement"). He was from the tribe of Levi and came from the island of Cyprus." (Acts 4:36, NLT) Joseph of Cyprus was so loving, so concerned about needs of others, that nobody called him "Joe" anymore. Instead, they called him - "Barney" - Mr. Encourager! Every Christian should love to have that nickname! Anybody can be a critic. It doesn't take much skill to point out what someone else is doing wrong. It takes a whole lot of skill to be a coach that calls for the best from another, while encouraging and motivating them.
The world is filled with critics. Everybody has an opinion about how somebody else could have done better! From the President's policies for conducting the war in Iraq to Joe Torre's coaching of the Yankees - there are people who imply that they could do the job better. They do this while comfortably avoiding responsibility, with less than one half of the facts, and none of the pressure of making leadership decisions. I always smile at the panel that comes on the TV during half-time when I watch football. Several guys - ex-players and coaches, and a commentator or two - analyze the performance of the teams on the field, while sitting in comfy chairs, in suits. Truth is, anybody can be a "Monday morning quarterback." When you're not facing the pressure on the field, it's EASY to call the right play. But it's a whole lot different when 300 lbs. of manhood is running straight at you trying desperately to tackle you or to take you out of the game.
President Theodore Roosevelt said,
"It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement; and who, at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat."
Are you an encourager that lifts those who walk with you? Or are one of the legions of critics who whine about every situation and circumstance that is not exactly to your liking?
God demands that we learn to encourage one another! "Encourage one another and build each other up." (1 Thessalonians 5:11, NIV) Oh that we would take seriously the directive of the Word to stay connected and to look out for others, instead of attacking those that disappoint us. "Let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near." (Hebrews 10:25, NLT) God considers giving encouragement so important that He even made it a spiritual gift. The Bible says that if He has so gifted us, we must use the gift! "If it is encouraging, let him encourage; ..." (Romans 12:8, NIV)
Let me encourage you to look for ways to fulfill this mandate of the Word....
"Get along among yourselves, each of you doing your part. Our counsel is that you warn the freeloaders to get a move on. Gently encourage the stragglers, and reach out for the exhausted, pulling them to their feet. Be patient with each person, attentive to individual needs. And be careful that when you get on each other’s nerves you don’t snap at each other. Look for the best in each other, and always do your best to bring it out. " (1 Thessalonians 5:13-15, The Message)
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