Church as a Supportive Community
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All of us need a word of encouragement from time to time to spur us on when we are facing a major challenge. But we also need words of appreciation and commendation as we carry out our daily responsibilities, whether at home, work or even right here at church. “We live by encouragement, and we die without it – slowly, sadly, angrily” (Celeste Holm).
There was a doctor who once wrote a letter of thanks to a former schoolteacher of his for having given him so much encouragement when he had been in her class 30 years before. This was the reply he later received from her: “I want you to know what your note meant to me. I am an old lady in my eighties, living alone in a small room, cooking my own meals, lonely, and seeming like the last leaf on the tree. You will be interested to know that I taught school for 50 years, and yours is the first letter of appreciation I have ever received. It came on a cold, blue morning and cheered my lonely old heart as nothing has ever cheered me in many years.”[i]
Sad, isn’t it? But such stories are more common than many of us may realize. When a corporate accountant committed suicide, an effort was made to find out why. The company's books were examined, but no shortage was found. Nothing could be uncovered that gave any clue as to why he took his life—that is, until a note was discovered. It simply said: "In 30 years I have never had one word of encouragement. I'm fed up!"[ii] And with that he ended his life!
Why are we so reluctant to let others know how we feel? Why are we so stingy and so slow to speak words that others long to hear; so private in saying things that cry out to be said?
These two stories highlight what is a very human reality: the wounds that can come not from what people do to us, but from what they don't do. To feel unappreciated and unvalued can create deep emotional wounds, and generally, they cut deeper the closer we are to the person who doesn’t value us. One of the great relational disciplines then is to learn to express gratitude for the goodness and kindness of others, to appreciate their actions and let them know we appreciate them.
The writer of the book of Hebrews knew all about the need for encouragement. “He addressed his book to the Christians in Rome. His concern was religious drift, the waning of enthusiasm, and the loss of courage and zeal. Many of these Romans were second-generation Christians. The faith was no longer new; therefore, it had lost that ‘new car’ smell and excitement. Furthermore, the imminent return of Christ in glory had not occurred as they had expected. To make matters worse, Christians were under attack in Rome's pagan society. For all these reasons, there was a danger that Christians might drift away from Christ.”[iii] They needed encouragement, and they needed it badly!
And so, in 10:24, the writer to the Hebrews says, “provoke one another to love and good deeds" (NRSV). I rather like the writer’s use of the word “provoke” in this verse. This is a word that usually conveys a negative sense, such as "irritate," “bother,” “pester,” or "exasperate," which is the very sense conveyed in the only other occurrence of the word in the NT in Acts 15:39. Here, Luke speaks of a sharp “disagreement” (same word as “provoke” in the original Greek) between Paul and Barnabas, which resulted in the breakdown of their relationship and in both men going their separate ways.
It is most unusual for the word “provoke” to be used in a positive sense as does the writer to the Hebrews, and the choice of such an unusual word makes his exhortation all the more forceful; and it needed to be, remembering that he was writing to a community that was inattentive, neglectful, and drifting.
And so, within the context of our passage from Hebrews, the word “provoke” actually means to “stir up” (RSV), to “rouse” (NAB), to “stimulate and incite” (ANT), in the sense of disturbing a timid or indifferent person into action. It’s a translation of a Greek word that has come into the English language as paroxysm – a convulsion or sudden outburst. Hence, some versions of the NT translate Heb 10:24 as: “Think of ways to encourage one another to outbursts of love and good deeds” (NLT). In this context, to “provoke” speaks forcefully of the tremendous impact we can have on one other.[iv]
The wisdom writer in Prov 27:17 reminds us of this by his use of a saying on friendship: “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another” (NIV). For the present-day reader, this saying may conjure up the imagery of a host at the dinner table sharpening the carving knife by drawing both sides of the blade against a hardened steel rod with fine ridges. Just as the action of iron against iron sharpens, so we are reminded of the beneficial personal effects that we can or do have upon one other, as we practice our Christian duty to encourage others.
The gift of encouragement is a real blessing, especially when it is so easy to find discouragement in this world. It's so easy to find people to tell us why something can't be done instead of why it can be done - people who are all too willing to throw cold water on the warm fires of our hopes and dreams. We need people who will build us up with words of encouragement, not tear us down with words of despair.
Sometimes, words of encouragement can change the whole direction of a person's life. Maybe you can recall someone who encouraged you at a turning point in your life. In my own case, I can still remember, many years ago, when I was about to quit ministry because of personal challenges which, at the time seemed insurmountable. I remember the conversation I had with my father and the encouragement he gave me, without which I probably would not have been in ministry today. I'll always be grateful to my father who gave me the gift of encouragement at just the right time in my life.
Of course, we can also be encouraged in just the everyday affairs of our lives. That's why I don’t like to see parents putting down their children and calling them "stupid" or "lazy." Call children enough names and they'll become what you call them. Evangelist Bill Glass once asked a group of a thousand prison inmates, “How many of you had parents who told you that you would end up in prison one day?” Almost every one of the inmates raised his hand.[v] We all need positive motivation to grow and learn – we all need that precious gift of encouragement. “Words of encouragement,” it is said, “can be ‘life words,’ bringing new motivation to our lives.” [vi] No matter how old or young we are, encouragement brings hope and healing; gloomy attitudes and misplaced sympathies only bring despair. But encouragement is also important in the life of the church. In fact, this is one of the main reasons we get together each week in God's house: to encourage one another in Christian living. “Christian encouragement, however, is more than (just) a compliment or a pat on the back, valuable as these can be. One writer described it as ‘the kind of expression that helps someone want to be a better Christian, even when life is rough.” [vii]
And so, the writer to the Hebrews goes on to say in v. 25 of our text: “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another (NIV). Imagine what a difference encouragement can make in the church. Imagine the attitude and spirit which would spread through the church if everyone walked around saying, "We'll never get new members; we'll never make our budget; our best days are all behind us." Why, that kind of attitude would sap whatever energy people had and soon, the "death wish" would come true.
Instead, we need people with the gift of encouragement. We need people to say, "Yes, let's try this," and "Let's try that. Let's believe in the future God has promised us and let's get busy with His mission." Encouragement like this is a rising tide which lifts up every boat, because if there is one place where the message should be heard, it should be here in the church: "Do not be dismayed and do not be discouraged. Go ahead and trust in God, for with God all things are possible.”[viii]
What better compliment could be offered us than to have someone say, "Talking to you has encouraged me to continue on in my spiritual walk"? The world is filled with troubled and discouraged souls who are struggling along in the Christian life. Battle weary, they are almost ready to give up. When they see you, what influence do you have on them? Do you inspire them to more noble lives of service? Or does your example tend to drag them down?[ix]
Three billion people go to bed hungry every night, but four billion people go to bed hungry for a simple word of encouragement.[x] Are we provoking “one another to love and good deeds”?
How long has it been since you…
Took time to go see someone who lives alone?
Wrote a letter to someone who crossed your mind?
Read the Bible to someone too ill to read for themselves?
Encouraged someone who was having a hard time being a Christian?
Prayed earnestly for someone who was faltering?
Told a young person that you were proud of his/her efforts to live for Christ?
Spent more time on your knees praying than on the telephone talking?
Every Christian can do something to encourage someone else![xi]
Many people crave some small sign of approval. They need a word of recognition, a caring smile, a warm handshake, and an honest expression of appreciation for the good we see in them or in their work. What about you? Remember how easy it is to speak the discouraging word. Remember how easily someone else has deflated your own hopes and dreams with a discouraging word. Every day let's determine to encourage at least one person. Let's do our part to help those around us, like the old schoolteacher and the accountant, who are dying to be appreciated, by sharing with them that precious, priceless gift of encouragement![xii] Amen. [i] Ted Kyle and John Todd, A Treasury of Bible Illustrations, Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 1995, 350.
[ii]Richard De Haan, “Dying For Encouragement,” Our Daily Bread, RBC Ministries, July 7, 2003.
[iii] Sermon by Bill Bouknight, “Our Scheduled Appointments with God,” ChristianGlobe Networks, Inc., 2002.
[iv] E. D. Radmacher, R. B. Allen, & H. W. House, Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Commentary, Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers, 1999.
[v] Michael P. Green, ed., Illustrations for biblical Preaching, Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House, 1997, 119.
[vi] Joanie Yoder, “Life Words,” Our Daily Bread, RBC Ministries, December 15, 2005.
[vii] Joanie Yoder, op. cit.
[viii] Sermon by Erskine White, “The Gift of Encouragement,” C.S.S. Publishing Company, 1990.
[ix]Richard De Haan, “Let's Go Higher!” Our Daily Bread, RBC Ministries, November 18, 2003.
[x] Roy B. Zuck, The Speaker’s Quote Book, Grand Rapids, Michigan: Kregel Publications, 1997,128.
[xi] Ted Kyle and John Todd, op. cit., 94-95.
[xii]Richard De Haan, “Dying For Encouragement,” Our Daily Bread, RBC Ministries, July 7, 2003 and Erskine White, “The Gift of Encouragement,” C.S.S. Publishing Company, 1990.
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