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Three Important Values Of Encouragement

CBF Biblical Leadership Principle for the Month of July 2022

Whether your business is up or down, your staff needs your support and encouragement. Words of encouragement bring hope during tough times and energy during the good times.

The early success of Paul’s ministry in the New Testament was premised on the words of encouragement that Barnabas provided to the disciples in Jerusalem. However, based on Paul’s previous reputation for zealotry and cruelty, it was no wonder the disciples questioned his newly declared faith.

The right words at the right time can produce wonderful results in your business and ministry. So, let’s look to the Word of God to learn how purpose, power, and place can maximize the value of encouragement.

1. The Purpose of Encouragement
From God’s perspective, words of encouragement are intended to bring the best out of us as we endeavour to live our lives purposefully for Him. We never outgrow our Heavenly Father’s “encouraging, comforting and urging to live lives worthy of God.”

For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father
deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting
and urging you to live lives worthy of God,
who calls you into his kingdom and glory.
1 Thessalonians 2:11-12

If you really want others to understand and witness the evidence of Christ in their lives, then our goal is to encourage them in heart (emotionally) and be united in love (action).

so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding,
in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ.
Colossians 2:2

Daily identify at least one person to whom you can give a word of encouragement or an act of kindness.

2. The Power of Encouragement
Words and acts of encouragement have the power to carry a person through some of life’s most difficult circumstances. During tough times it’s easy to lose perspective as you focus on the pain of the present.

Encouragement brings hope and an awareness that you’re not all alone in these situations. God promises that awareness of His presence can and will carry you through some of the greatest threats in your life.

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when
you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.
Isaiah 43:2

God’s comfort and compassion are provided to support us in our troubles. In turn, we can powerfully comfort and encourage others in trouble because of what we’ve received from Him.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,
who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can
comfort those in any trouble with the comfort
we ourselves receive from God.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4

In what ways do you practice encouragement when you know someone is going through difficult time of trouble?

3. The Place for Encouragement
There’s a time and place for everything, including encouragement. As believers, we have the privilege of meeting together which provides an excellent opportunity to “spur” or “provoke” each other toward love and good deeds.

Working in the business world brings unique challenges. Therefore, regularly meeting with other Christians can serve as a wonderful place of encouragement, especially when centred around the Scripture and in prayer.

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,
not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but
encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Hebrews 10:24-25

Do you have a small group of Christian friends with whom you can be a source of encouragement for one another?

In conclusion, we all benefit from encouraging words and acts to energize and give us hope when it’s needed most. So, look for opportunities to show others what you also value by way of encouragement today.

Don Moore
Executive Director Canadian Christian Business Federation
Don strongly believes that people are our nation’s most valuable asset. His Listen-Learn-Lead” approach to leadership has made him highly effective in executive roles in a variety of organizations with local, regional, national, and international reach.

An entrepreneurial thinker and strategist, Don built a grassroots movement of denominational and ministry leaders committed to evangelism with The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada (EFC) and led a National Consultation in Ottawa.

Canadian Christian Business Federation
Email: don@ccbf.org
5792 Eighth Line East
Ariss, ON N0B 1B0
416-725-5586
https://www.ccbf.org