February 19, 2021

We’ve been looking at two ways to live our best life every day, and the first way we saw was setting a good example or making our life a blueprint of Christ in us for others to follow. Then we looked at how making an investment in others is critical for living a life of selflessness for the glory of God. 

In chapter 3, Paul gets personal. Remember that Paul not only gave this church the gospel with his words, but he invested his life in them. He sends Timothy to check on them and see if the trials they faced were discouraging them and causing them to doubt. What Paul discovered was a group of Christ followers who were staying strong in their faith in the midst of hardships and was a source of encouragement and joy to other believers.

We learn through this personal statement to these Christians some valuable lessons about encouragement and encouragements impact on those who do the encouraging. (Read 1-3)

(1) We need to encourage others because life is hard (1-3)

Rocky Balboa: “Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It is a very mean and nasty place and it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t how hard you hit; it’s about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward. “

(2) We need to encourage others because our enemy seeks to destroy our joy in Christ (5)

How many times have you been around people who believe the lies of Satan and are living defeated lives even when they know that God has delivered? We tend to believe the worst and hang on to every criticism. The enemy loves to discourage and depress us. You may be around people who are under serious attack from the enemy and God has put you in their path to speak a word of encouragement. Your words will pull them through when nothing else will. 

Max Lucado wrote in his book, He Still Moves Stones: Leo Tolstoy, the great Russian writer, tells of the time he was walking down the street and passed a beggar. Tolstoy reached into his pocket to give the beggar some money, but his pocket was empty. Tolstoy turned to the man and said, “I’m sorry, my brother, but I have nothing to give.”

The beggar brightened and said, “You have given me more than I asked for—you have called me brother.”

To the loved, a word of affection is a morsel, but to the love-starved, a word of affection can be a feast.” Whether it’s love or hope or a challenge to keep moving forward in the face of trials, your encouragement could be the weapon a person needs to defeat the enemy’s attack today. 

(3) We need to encourage others because the community it builds is priceless (6)

William Ward: “Flatter me and I may not believe you. Criticize me, and I may not like you. Ignore me, and I may not forgive you. Encourage me and I will never forget you.”

(4) We need to encourage others because when we do it comes back to us (7-10)

Mutual encouragement creates relational synergy and joyous community breathing new life into relationships that could otherwise be strained and on the verge of collapse. 

Encouraging others is a ministry everyone can do. Look around today and find someone to encourage. Maybe it will be a waitress who is a single parent working two jobs to raise her children. Maybe its coworker who is struggling to bring balance to their life and on the verge of depression. Maybe it’s your spouse or child who just need to hear a positive word from you and not a critical word. Whoever or however, encourage someone today for the glory of God.

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