ENCOURAGEMENT

 

Robert Dean Steel

Cornerstone Community Church

 

     One of the greatest blessings that you can be is when you encourage others.  The Bible tells in many places to exhort which means to encourage, to edify which means to build others up and to love others in a practical way.  The apostle Paul tells us that we are to build each other up in the most holy faith.  Many do not know this but it is actually God’s will that we encourage each other.  This shows love in a concrete manner. 

     Here are some reasons why you should encourage others.  It In turn motivates you.  When you encourage others you are actually breaking a cycle of selfishness.  You are looking more at others than you are yourself.  William Booth was the founder of the Salvation Army and he was asked once to describe the message of his movement.  Without hesitation he said, “Others.”  When you focus on others it actually make you feel good and changes your thinking away from yourself and you in turn touch others. 

     The next reason is it'll help in changing the world.  Now each act of kindness or encouragement has a positive effect.  It is like throwing a rock in a pool of water the further the ripples go the larger the effect.  There was a commercial on TV about how one person inspired others by their one act of kindness.  The amazing thing about encouragement it can actually change the direction of a person’s life.  Colonel Saunders of Kentucky Fried Chicken fame did not start his business until he was a senior citizen.  A friend of his reminded him that he was a great cook and he should use that talent.  He knew how to make chicken and so with only a few hundred dollars he open his first food stand and the rest is history.  The Bible says, a word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pitchers of silver.

     A great reason to encourage others is you will make true friends.  Friends will always encourage their friends.  When you encourage others you are also opening the avenue of friendship.  People too often hear criticism more than encouragement.  When you remind others that they have value, gifts and destiny it helps them to believe in themselves and the gift they can become.  This often makes lifelong friends.  I have a friend name Roger who has been my best friend since we were three.  Every conversation we try to encourage each other.  Roger is a true renaissance man.  He can do anything.  I always value what he says because I know his heart. 

     When you encourage you will help others.  When you are helping others you are actually helping someone made in the image of God.  One dear preacher said one time, ”when you love others you are loving God.”  People do not often know that they are made in the image of God.  They have his moral, social and spiritual likeness.  When we encourage others we are lifting up someone who God made.  We are speaking with words and actions that we truly think they are important and have value.   

     When you encourage others you actually help them down the road to react properly to constructive criticism.  Through encouragement you build trust.  People trust you and when you have to confront a bad behavior in their life and they will have a tendency to hear you better.  Love must always be given in a way that the recipient will know that you truly love them and it is not phony love.  Encouragement is one of the building blocks to trust in any relationship.

     Giving encouragement also helps you to see other differently.  Encouragement forces you to look beyond yourself.  It gives you a platform to truly help and love others.  It changes your worldview because after a while you are not looking for opportunities to encourage it will be part of your lifestyle.  People may also follow your example and in turn encourage others. 

     Lastly, you may open up a plethora of opportunities.  Encouragement should never be used for selfish reasons but there is a divine principle found in Galatians 6:8, you reap what you sow.  When you sow love and encouragement in others that is what comes back to you.  In Corporate Canada executives are taught to do charity work and giving their time to volunteer work.  The reason behind is that there is a trickle down effect.  You help others and in turn others help you.  You give and it comes back to you.  Solomon said, cast your bread upon the waters in a few days it will return to you.  The meaning is that when you give others it will in turn happen to you.  So today encourage others it will do nothing but good for you and others.