Scripture: Acts 4:36-37 ESV – “Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.”
Barnabas means “son of encouragement.” It wasn’t his first name; it was a nickname given to him by the Apostles. His name was not a wish for him, nor was it a job description. It was an announcement of what God had done in his life and the person he was becoming. It also represents what Barnabas challenged others to be—simply by imparting what God had imparted into him.
Of all the things you could be known for, “encourager” might be at the top of the list. But what does it mean to be an encourager? People have stumbled across many ideas about this. For some, it’s about being positive about everything. For others, it means being a people pleaser. But if you look at the example of Barnabas, you see that being an encourager is about generosity—generosity with authenticity, honesty, time, treasures, abilities, and even your own reputation. Most of all, it’s about putting others before yourself.
When you look at the word “encourage,” you might notice something that could alter the way you understand what it means to be a Barnabas. Do you see it yet? That’s right! It’s “courage.” Look at the “en” portion of the word “encourage.” “En” as a prefix is commonly used to create verbs, often meaning “to put into,” “to cause to be in,” or “to surround.”
Being an encourager is about more than making someone feel better about their life. It’s about causing them to open themselves to a strength that will not just change the way they see things but will also cause them to confront the things they see—to shift from passive to proactive. Simply put, being an encourager is about being a vessel for courage in others. It’s not just about the words you say to edify someone but also about the intent behind those words.
Do you view your role as an encourager as someone who actually instills courage in others? Does it surprise you to know that you could do that?
Barnabas gives a great example of this in Acts 9:26-27. At this point, the Apostles were faced with the decision of whether to support the ministry of Saul, also known as Paul. If you didn’t know, Saul was formerly a world-class persecutor of Christ-followers. He was brutal to the church. What made that a thing of the past rather than the present happened on the road to Damascus.
Saul was traveling to Damascus when he “had seen the Lord who spoke to him.” He actually saw Jesus in this encounter, and Jesus rescued Saul from having a heart full of hate and called him to a ministry of love and reconciliation. You can read about this amazing transformation in Acts 9:1-19.
But for now, think about how conflicted the Apostles must have felt when faced with the decision to bless this same man to go out and lead people to Jesus. Acts 9:1 describes Saul as “breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord.” Maybe you can understand, then, why the Apostles were “afraid of him.”
These men wanted nothing more than to see missionaries who were on fire for Jesus go into the world and bring the gospel to the lost. But the thing that terrified them more than even dying for the cause of Christ was the possibility of being complicit in the persecution of Christians by unknowingly supporting the very man who had done it better than anyone. If Saul was not truly a changed man, they had a huge problem on their hands.
Well, he was transformed. And Barnabas could testify to it. He went before the Apostles and recounted exactly what God had done in Saul’s life, saying that “at Damascus he [SAUL] had preached boldly in the name of Jesus.” Barnabas instilled in the Apostles the courage they needed to trust Paul’s testimony.
As it turned out, Barnabas fulfilled this calling over and over again—not only throughout Paul’s journeys but even beyond, when he and John Mark partnered in ministry.
Your name might not mean “son of encouragement,” but as a follower of Christ, you are called to be one. The Aramaic meaning of the name Barnabas goes even deeper. If you break down his name and focus on the word nabba, you’ll find that it is related to a Hebrew root meaning “prophet.” A prophet is one who counsels, comforts, exhorts, and encourages. Sound familiar?
God isn’t looking for a church full of motivational gurus who use clever words to make people feel strong and mighty. He is looking for those who live as true encouragers. He is calling exhorters who aren’t handing out cheap compliments to build their own clout but are committed to building up God’s church.
There are people who are afraid. They aren’t fulfilling God’s calling on their lives because they fear that their efforts won’t withstand opposition. God is calling you to be a Barnabas to them. He is setting up opportunities for you to speak up—not for personal satisfaction, but for the sake of action.
There is a place for a heart of generosity that puts others ahead of itself and stakes its reputation on the providence of God. There is a need for true encouragement.
Will you be an encourager today?
Discussion Questions:
Can you think of a time when God used someone to instill courage in you? What did they do or say that caused the shift?
Are you in need of true encouragement today? Take a moment to ask God to bring a Barnabas into your life. Are you willing to let someone into your journey?
How can you shift toward imparting courage to others? Write down one or two names of people you believe God is calling you to encourage.