The Heart of an Encourager
No one had ever reached the summit of Mt. Everest until the middle of the 20th Century. Edmund Hillary, a New Zealand beekeeper by occupation did the unthinkable and became the first man to reach Everest’s 29,000 ft. summit. He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth. He was also acclaimed as the world’s greatest mountain climber. But Edmund was not alone on the mountaintop that day. Someone else reached the top of the mountain with him. A Nepalese shepherd named Tenzing Norgay, served as a guide on that treacherous climb. Even though Hillary always acknowledged his guide as a partner in his historic climb, the world ignored him. Hillary credited Norgay as the one who truly gave him the strength and encouragement to keep going. He was always right beside him convincing him to believe that they could make it to the top. He would not have made it without his encourager.
The Bible gives us a wonderful example of someone with the heart of an encourager. His name is Barnabas. He is the one who encouraged the poor saints in Jerusalem by selling some property and laying the proceeds at the apostles feet to distribute to those in need. When a new church was started in Antioch it was Barnabas who went there and: “…When had seen the grace of God, was glad and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord” (Acts 11:23). Barnabas was also an encouragement to a young man named Mark who walked away from the missionary team. However, Barnabas had the heart of an encourager when he gave Mark a second chance to serve the Lord.
People all around are starving. Not for food but for encouragement. Those with needs need someone to come along and help them. New believers need a strong encourager to get them started in the right direction. Those who are weary on the climb or those who have stumbled need someone to come alongside and challenge them to keep climbing. Will you be like Edmund Hillary’s Norgay and like Barnabas? May God give us the heart of an encourager.
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