What do we mean by encouraging another? Webster’s dictionary describes encouragement as, “giving courage, hope or confidence to, to help or give support to.” What does this mean to us? How often do we focus on actively encouraging others, particularly our brethren and sisters in Christ?
Being preoccupied
We all lead busy lives. Our jobs, our families, our education and social activities can fill our minds and take up much of our time. On a Sunday morning, we try to put aside other concerns and focus entirely on remembering our Lord in the appointed way. Yet even then, how many of us, within a few minutes after the memorial service, are already focusing our minds on secular endeavors? When we do that, we too easily miss the downhearted look of a sister or the loneliness of a brother. I find myself falling into this trap all too often.
We are all familiar with the scene. A brother inquires of another how he is doing. In fact, the brother’s father is ill in the hospital, his teen-age son has been getting into trouble with his friends at school and, as of two days ago, his job looks insecure. Yet he responds, “Oh, not that bad, I guess, all things considered.” The first brother responds by saying, “Yes, well it takes a lot of effort to keep on top of everything in our busy lives; well, it’s good to see you, take care.”
Encouragement needed
Here was an opening. If the brother was looking for an opportunity to encourage, he might have taken the time to pursue the response a little further. This may have allowed him to provide some support or advice. As we all know, this can be time-consuming. It may be that the troubled brother could use quite a lot of support and counseling. If the inquirer is capable, he may have to invest a considerable amount of time in helping or in finding someone who can. Are we willing to make this kind of commitment?
Bearing burdens
We receive instruction in the words: “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbor for his good to edification. For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me” (Rom. 15:1-6).
Through the apostle Paul, the Spirit instructs the brethren at Rome, and ourselves, to “bear the infirmities of the weak.” Helping a brother and sister to cope physically or spiritually can be done by providing an ear to listen or a shoulder to lean on. This may be just the support needed to deal with the problem.
Christ is our ultimate example. He “pleased not himself” but bore the reproaches of men (v.3). Likewise, we are to serve others to edification. In doing this, we glorify God (v.6).
When Paul wrote to the Philippians, he instructed them to esteem others better than themselves (Phil. 2:1-5). If we esteem the other person, we will look to his needs ahead of our own (v.4). We are reminded in verse 5 that this is the attribute of Christ which we want to reflect to our brethren and to the world.
Encouragement is an action. It is something we must focus on; we will only do it by deliberate effort and with personal discipline. In order for our meetings to be times of strengthening and support, we each must make it a goal to encourage others.
Sensitive listening
Those in need often find it difficult to share their troubles. Listening is thus a key to understand our brethren and sisters. Listening requires concentration. It involves sensitively picking out non-verbal cues such as sighs, facial expressions, slumped shoulders or moist eyes.
A sensitive listener responds with words that are not intimidating. He conveys interest and concern through empathy and compassion.
Consider the following quotes, noting how Proverbs underlines the impact of our words:
“The tongue of the righteous is as choice silver, the heart of the wicked is little worth” (Prov. 10:20).
“There is that speaketh rashly like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health” (12:18).
“A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breaking of the spirit” (15:4).
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof” (18:21).
We must remember that our words can heal or destroy. We must choose them carefully.
Encouraging Christ
In Matthew 25:34-40, we are told that when we provide nourishment, hospitality, clothing or company to our brother or sister, it is as if we are doing it to Christ. Conversely, when we do not take time to provide for our brethren, we are, essentially, not giving our time to Christ. Christ — the one who gave his life for us.
There are many opportunities to provide encouragement when we are together. We must focus our minds and diligently strive to make it our goal to look for such opportunities. We should listen and respond with sensitivity that conveys concern and interest in what others have to say.
The day of our Lord is drawing near. We must give diligence to make our calling and election sure and to help others, that an entrance may be ministered to us all into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One