The Gift of Encouragement (Part 1)

In the made-for-TV movie “Something For Joey,” Heisman Trophy winner John Cappelletti made of gift of his Heisman to his little brother who was suffering with leukemia. It was a touching moment, and a true one—as Cappelletti sought to lift the spirits of young Joey, locked in a battle for his life, with a profound gift. A gift is a precious thing, and something that carries with it love, concern, and care.

To that end, God has given all of us gifts—spiritual gifts. That brings me to what I want to think about with you, especially in the light of last week’s posts about the economic pressures we are facing around the world—the gift of encouragement. It is a much-needed salve to the hearts and homes that are breaking under the pressures of job-loss (and a million other things). Though some will have a wonderful, God-given giftedness to be unusually effective in encouraging others, all of us have a responsibility to minister with a heart of encouragement to one another! So, what does this mean and where do we start?

Part One: What Is Encouragement?

Now, if you will look at Romans 12, you will see that Paul lists 7 such gifts. These are (Romans 12) grace gifts (charismata), which we are to be constantly giving away in order to build up one another. They are for the mutual edification of one another within the family of faith, and all of us have received a measure of giftedness. Within his discussion, let me, by way of introduction, net out a couple of basic principles:

• The implication of Scripture is that all of us have some kind of giftedness, but none of us have all the gifts and no gift is necessarily for everyone.
• Each gift represents a special focus of ministry within the Body of Christ.
• Though not all of us may be especially gifted in a certain area, we may still be expected to serve in that area (ex.: giving).

God has given each of us the ability to do certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out when you have faith that God is speaking through you. If your gift is that of serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, do a good job of teaching. If your gift is to encourage others, do it! If you have money, share it generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly. (Rom.12:6-8)

In Romans 12:8, the word that we want to focus on, depending on your translation, may be rendered encourage or exhort. In either case, it is the Greek word parakaleo. It means “to call alongside,” and carries the sense of being called alongside for the purpose of lifting someone or urging them forward.

One form of the word parakaleo is paraklete—the term Jesus used in John 14:26 to describe the Holy Spirit—which means counselor or comforter. The role described is of a true friend—a friend who comes to your side when you need someone the most, and offers help. In Webster’s Dictionary, the English word encourage is defined as “to give courage, hope, or confidence to”.

It is something we all need—even long for. Encouragement is something that, emotionally, we cannot live long without. It is as necessary to our well-being emotionally as water and air are physically. If you don’t believe that, look at a wife or a young person or a business man who is constantly being pounded down with all the negatives, and never nurtured with kind words of appropriate appreciation and challenge.

Why is life so often that way? How has it been that way in your experience?