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PROGRAM D-8240
Would you say that you could use a little encouragement today? Although I don’t know exactly what’s going on in your life right now, it could be that you’re simply discouraged: Things aren’t going the way you want them to, finances are difficult, your health may not be the best, or relationships could be strained and unpleasant. Life has a way of sapping our joy, doesn’t it? It could be that you truly need some encouragement right now.
Then I want to suggest that you follow the three principles of sowing and reaping, which are these:
- You reap what you sow.
- You reap in a different season than you sow.
- You reap more than you sow.
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, encouraged them to encourage each other.
This should be a trademark of a Christian—to be an encouraging person. Becoming an encourager is something all of us can do. 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.