Encouragers

Along the Christian journey the Lord will send men and women to encourage us. We read of Jonathan who encouraged David who was fleeing from King Saul, Jonathan's father. It says, "And Jonathan Saul's son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God." (1 Samuel 23:16, KJV).

Paul found in Barnabas a true friend and comfort. In fact, Barnabas name means son of consolation (Acts 4:36). Timothy found in Paul a father. Paul writes, "For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church." (I Corinthians 4:17, NIV).

Worldly friends can offer only natural things and few words to bring comfort in our difficult season. It's not to say that unsaved individuals can not help but when it comes to spiritual struggles and relating to the things of God, they fall short.

It's the man or woman of God who has weathered storms, endured trials, has known deep loneliness and faced trying times can offer a wealth of encouragement. They have witnessed first hand what God do for them. So they are not interested in giving a pep talk. They have to say very little for just their presence along the way is enough to encourage us.

Then there will be a time when we must offer encouragement to them. 2 Corinthians 1:4 says, "Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God." (KJV). And we read in Proverbs 18:24, "A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother." (KJV).

To keep the encouragement flowing means we have to be willing to offer it to others in their time of need. Think of it as a bank in which you make a deposit. One day you may need to withdraw some of it. And this is true for a friend whose made a deposit in you and needs to withdraw some encouragement.

So let's build up one one another in the most holy faith. These times are difficult and we need each other to overcome!