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MINISTRY OF ENCOURAGEMENT
Dear friends, would recall me dwelling on the topic of “talents” in the previous fortnight
& more specifically on the talent of being an effectual “intercessory prayer warrior.”
Continuing with the subject of “talents,” I would now like to dwell on yet another
oft-neglected latent talent amongst all of us Christians - the talent of
being a good encourager.
Dear friends, much like the ministry of “intercessory prayer,” which does not guarantee instant
public glare, this ministry would also not bring us instantly into the public limelight.
In fact, many may never even recognize the fact that we are going about this ministry faithfully,
self-effacing as it is.
What does the Lord’s word say about this ministry? In fact, it exhorts to be good encouragers
a) “Therefore encourage one another & build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”
(I Thessalonians 5:11)
b) “Let us not give-up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing, but let us ENCOURAGE one another &
all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Heb 10:25)
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What about the Holy Spirit-inspired author of the afore-recorded words of the scripture,
the mighty apostle Paul who had access to the paradise
(II Cor: 12:2,3)? Did he also NEED
encouragement in his ministry, mighty as he was? Did he experience the benefits of this blessed
ministry from someone else who may not have been as popular as him? We need to go no further than
II Timothy 1:15-18 for the answer. Set against the background of defections of some of the Christians
from him at the time of his imprisonment (What a time for them to desert him, just when he needed their support!),
the revitalizing visit of Onesiphorous & his act of encouragement to Paul; in line with the Lord’s words spoken in
Matt 25:36;
had a salutary effect on the apostle languishing in the Roman jail all alone. So much so, Paul
calls for the choicest blessings upon Onesiphorous & his household.
Also consider this… Onesiphorous who had traveled a good 700 miles from his native Ephesus to
Rome & had diligently searched for Paul in Rome (mind you there were several prisons in Rome & to
identify one, in which Paul was imprisoned must have been quite an exercise in itself) to
meet & encourage him in his ministry was actually living up to his name, for Onesiphorous
in Greek means one who brings profit. Yes, the spiritual & emotional gain he brought to Paul,
as can be gauged from Paul’s passionate acknowledgement of the same recorded in the captioned
scripture portion, is indeed incalculable & immeasurable.
What about the Old Testament? Are there any instances of acts of encouragement? Well, yes.
Consider this …I Samuel 23:16 “Prince Jonathan now went to find David; he met him at Horesh &
encouraged him in his faith in God.“ Nowhere in the entire Old Testament is found perhaps such a
love as selfless as that of what Prince Jonathan had for David. Was not Prince Jonathan aware
that David would sit on the very throne to which he was a natural heir? He was! Yet, he humbly
accepted God’s will & this act of offering encouragement to David was very much in conformity with it.
Now coming to this particular incident, David was a fugitive on the run from murderous King Saul, Jonathan’s father.
Though David knew God’s will that, he would one day ascend the throne of the kingdom of Israel,
he did not know God’s timing. He never knew when all of God’s promises to him would come to pass.
Weary from his forest & desert wanderings, David may have been wondering when the “comforting” dawn would
follow the troubled “night” of his life. Just then, comes along the re invigorating visit of Prince Jonathan
assuring David that he would surely be the king one day. Oh! What comfort and what relief this
encouraging visit of Jonathan would have provided to David!
Let us examine ourselves dear friends, have we ever donned the role of a good encourager?
Will the posterity speak of us like we speak of Prince Jonathan & Onesiphorous today?
Dear friends, it is said sometimes a word of encouragement can mean the difference between giving up & going on.
A true story is told of a Sunday school teacher, who discouraged by apparent lack of “fruit”’
in her ministry was about to “throw in the towel.” On the very evening she was to tender her resignation
to the Church authorities came a letter from her erstwhile student who was now a soldier lying mortally
wounded in a hospital. He had dictated & someone wrote on his behalf that he was dying as a Christian &
was ready to meet his Maker peacefully; thanks to the Sunday school classes he attended.
Though saddened by the news of the imminent death of her student, the teacher took heart that
there were students who were being blessed by her ministry & hence kept at her work faithfully.
There is yet another strange phenomenon in this world & notably amongst us Christians. Paradoxical as it is,
we wait for someone to die before complimenting him! How ironically & yet true is the fact that compliments &
memorial services go hand in hand. There is no dearth of “praises” to a departed soul. Friends,
well wishers, & we all wax eloquent about the beloved one when he is no longer with us.
But when does one actually need a “good word?” When he is gone or when he is amidst us?
The good Lord in His sovereign wisdom has placed some examples in wild nature for us to learn some
valuable lessons on encouragement. Avian scientists have discovered beautiful secrets on the
quacking behavior of the wild geese when they fly thousands of miles in the V-formation in
their migratory trips. These birds take turn in leading the group & ones in the rear are always
found quacking & not the one in lead. What exactly are they trying to convey to those in
lead by way of their quacking? The avian scientists familiar with the “geese language”
tell us that they are basically saying “KEEP IT UP, YOU ARE DOING A GOOD JOB!”
Oh for that attitude. Father, I confess, I am a poor encourager. I have never taken this ministry
seriously. Pardon me & pour in me that spirit, with which you anointed men such as Prince
Jonathan & Onesiphorous.
It is said that that there is no such thing as the right time to do good. By the same token,
positive resolutions need not be confined to the New Year time, alone. How about the one to be a good
encourager at all times, at this time?
Yours in His service,
(Suresh Manoharan)
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