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PROGRAM D-7180
Would you say that you could use a little encouragement today? In these difficult times, many people are worried about their jobs, their savings, paying their children’s college tuition, paying the mortgage—the list goes on. And I can imagine that many of you are in that category—you need some encouragement.
Well, then I want to suggest that you follow the principle of sowing and reaping. There are three principles to sowing and reaping:
- You reap what you sow.
- You reap in a different season than you sow.
- You reap more than you sow.
Therefore, if you need encouragement today, then sow some encouragement. Encourage someone else, and that seed of encouragement will come back to you in abundance. It may not come today, but it will come.
Isaiah 1:17 reminds us, “Learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed.” The Apostle Paul was continually encouraging people, and admonishing new believers to be encouragers. In 1 Thessalonians 5:11 he said, “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” Notice how he complimented them while at the same time encouraging them to encourage each other.
This should be a trademark of a Christian—to be an encouraging person. And whether you have the gift of encouragement or not, we can all learn to be encouragers. I trust these simple ideas I’ve shared with you will cause you to stop and think about what you can do to be a more effective encourager—to be a Barnabas in your workplace.