Be a Barnabas
Joseph, a descendant of Levi, had been born on the island
of Cyprus. The apostles called him Barnabas, which means “a person who
encourages. He sold his field and gave
the money to the apostles for the work of God.[1]
He was a prophet and a teacher (Acts 13.1). When all the
disciples were afraid of Paul after his conversion, it was Barnabas that took
him and explained his conversion and verified his testimony.[2]
Here is the kind of person Barnabas was: When Barnabas was
sent to Antioch, he was full of joy
when he saw the grace God gave to them. He continuously
exhorted (warned, urged, and encouraged) them all to cleave unto and remain faithful to and devoted to the Lord with
[resolute and steady] purpose of heart. For he was a good man [good in himself
and also at once for the good and the advantage of other people], full of and controlled by the Holy Spirit and
full of faith (of his belief that Jesus is the Messiah, through Whom we obtain
eternal salvation). After indicating Barnabas continuously exhorted the Church at Antioch, it says, And a large company was added to the Lord.[3]
That’s what happens when people like Barnabas are around.
Barnabas was led by the Holy Spirit to leave Antioch then
and go to Tarsus to look for Saul. He brought Paul back to Antioch and they taught
the Church there for a year. The disciples ere
first called Christians there, leading us to believe that he was a great
example of looking like Christ.[4]
Barnabas looked for ways to encourage the faith of others.
When he wanted to take John Mark with him and Paul on a missionary trip, Paul
did not want to take him. Paul was probably thinking about John Mark’s
inexperience and his failure in the past when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos,
they came to Perga in Pamphylia: and John departing from them returned to
Jerusalem.[5]
Paul and Barnabas disagreed so sharply
that they parted ways. Barnabas took John Mark to Cyprus, and Paul selected
Silas instead and went through Syria and Cilicia.[6]
Apparently, Barnabas was a good tutor to his nephew, because later we see that
Paul says that he is a great help and profitable to him in the ministry,[7] sends
greetings to the Colossians from Mark and instructions from Paul to welcome
him,[8] and
sends greetings from him to Philemon,[9]
referring to him as a follow worker and fellow labourer. With someone like Barnabas walking alongside
him, John Mark was able to overcome some of his immaturity and grow in Christ.
A Barnabas is our spiritual peer, a friend in the faith, someone we
co-labor with and someone who will be a source of fellowship, protection, and
encouragement. We need to do the same things for them. We need someone that
knows our heart and knows when our balloon is losing helium and starting to
sink. Someone with the ability to infuse us with more helium so we can stay
afloat during tough times. The
word encourage is from two words that
mean to put in heart, or put in courage. Do you have a Barnabas in your
life?
Pursue a Paul
When I purchase a product, even
if it isn’t too costly, I depend on reviews from others who have used the
product before. That helps me be confident the product will be the quality it
says it is, fit correctly, and be a purchase I won’t regret. Hearing what others
have to say can also uncover unforeseen problems.
When I travel, I research to be
sure we go to restaurants with good reviews from those who have dined there
before. We look at tour reviews to see comments of travelers who went on the
tours before us. We don’t want to waste time and money by taking chances!
Pulling up a map program helps
us to foresee traffic hindrances and road blockages that would hinder us
getting to our destination in a timely fashion without unexpected problems.
In the same way, it is so
important to have mentors in our faith: those who have walked before us, who
can help us uncover unforeseen problems, and save us time and energy in
learning tough lessons ourselves. In fact, the Bible tells us, Without good direction, people lose their
way; the more wise counsel you follow, the better your chances.[10]
We are told to Remember [our] leaders, who spoke the word
of God to [us]. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their
faith.[11]
In community with other believers, one of the things we
learn is that God never intended for us to figure everything out on our own.
Scripture is replete with examples of leadership, friendship, mentoring, and
being mentored. We see the downfall of fools who despise wisdom and will not
hear instruction throughout Proverbs and in the lives of those like Rehoboam,[12]
Nabal,[13]
Asa,[14] Saul,[15]
and others.
We need a “Paul” in our lives so that we realize that
there is still somewhere we need to get to in our walk with Christ. Someone who
has blazed the path before us and knows some of the obstacles we will be facing
and how best to overcome them.
A scorner has no love for one who rebukes him; neither
will he go to the wise [for counsel].[16]
A stubborn fool considers his own way the right one, but a
person who listens to advice is wise.[17]
I have been blessed with many mentors in the faith that
have given me words of wisdom that helped me avoid problems in my life and
helped me find solutions instead. When facing challenges, I have looked to find
others who have gone before me successfully, and asked them what they did to
conquer the same challenges that I am facing to come out victoriously. Although
some of their advice wasn’t applicable to my unique situation, more often than
not much wisdom helped me create and live out solutions, take away excuses, and
empower me to get through.
A Paul needs to be pursued.
Make time to be accountable to someone. Make time to pick their brain and ask
them questions. Make time to observe a mentor when applicable or appropriate.
Write down goals with them and make tangible steps to achieve them. Discuss
strategies and possibilities with them; they will surely save you some steps
and add wisdom to your direction.
When pursuing a mentor, set up a schedule on what your
plan is to meet or talk with them. Some challenges may require once a day
contact, some once a week, some once a month, and other times even meeting with
someone once can help you. Stick to a time schedule so neither of you give up
on your intended meetings because of your inability to keep to a schedule.
We can all benefit from being lifelong learners. Make sure
you are utilizing the wonderful tool of having a mentor encourage you through
your unique challenges and obstacles in life. Do you have
a Paul in your life?
Train a Timothy
One of the things we are commanded to do is to make disciples and
teach.[18] We are to declare
[God’s] strength to this generation and [His] power to all who are to come.[19]
In fact, we are literally stewards over the comfort we have received
when we suffer.
He
comforts us whenever we suffer. That is why whenever other people suffer, we
are able to comfort them by using the same comfort we have received from God.
Because Christ suffered so much for us, we can receive so much comfort from
him. Besides, if we suffer, it brings you comfort and salvation. If we are
comforted, we can effectively comfort you when you endure the same sufferings
that we endure. We have confidence in you. We know that as you share our
sufferings, you also share our comfort.[20]
We are told that, The
things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust
these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.[21]
We need a “Timothy” in our lives so that we can share the
grace we have received in our trials with them so that they will be equipped to
get through their trials. We need to realize that even while “in process” of
our own growth, we still have something to share with others. Others can
benefit from some of the lessons we may have had to learn the hard way, and we
can share hope and help to others that may be a life raft to them when they
feel as if they are sinking.
When you are training someone you also accept responsibility to live
up to the standard God has given you. You become more aware of your attitudes
and the way you live, knowing that others are watching and learning from them.
You seek to win victory over weak spots in your character because you want to
be a good example. We want to model life-long learning to others, making people
more effective on both sides of that training.
The Gospel gives great examples
of being good leaders. The heart of Paul as a leader is expressed in his letter
to the Thessalonians: Having
so fond an affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to you not only
the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to
us.[22]
He told the Corinthian
church: Imitate
me as I imitate Christ.[23]
Paul said that the
Corinthians were a …letter of
recommendation written in our hearts that everyone knows and reads. It’s clear
that you are Christ’s letter, written as a result of our ministry. You are a
letter written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, a letter
written not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.[24]
Paul
realized the importance of leaders and the example they are. He told Titus to be sure the older women were good
examples: Older
women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor
enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, so that they may encourage the
young women to love their husbands, to love their children,…[25]
Paul instructed the Romans that, Those of us who are strong and able in the faith need to step in and
lend a hand to those who falter, and not just do what is most convenient for
us. Strength is for service, not status. Each one of us needs to look after the
good of the people around us, asking ourselves, “How can I help?”[26]
Although Timothy was a lot younger and inexperienced, Paul took time to
father him in his faith. Paul poured into Timothy, and God used Timothy in a
mighty way despite his young age. Just like Paul, we all need a “Timothy” in
our lives too. We all need to be
pouring into someone not only for their benefit and growth but for our benefit
and growth as well. No matter where you are in your walk with the Lord, there
is always someone that will benefit from you taking the time to pour into his
or her life. Think of all the people who have poured into your life and how
they have helped you along the path.
Paul took the time to instruct
Timothy: Don’t
let anyone look down on you for being young. Instead, make your speech,
behavior, love, faith, and purity an example for other believers.[27]
While modeling life and training Timothy,
Paul imparted to him by four different ways that he brings out in Philippians
4.9: Practice what you have learned and received and heard
and seen in me, and model your way of living on it,
and the God of peace (of untroubled, undisturbed well-being) will be with you. If others are to learn, then you are to teach;
if others are to receive, then you are to give;
if others are to hear, then you are to speak,
and if others are to see then you are to do. As
you teach, give, speak and live the principles you are teaching, you become
more accountable to live up to those standards. As you speak, your own faith grows by hearing, strengthening
your resolve and commitment. It is a healthy accountability. You join with
Paul, increasing in discipline, …for fear
that after proclaiming to others the Gospel and things pertaining to it, I myself should become unfit [not
stand the test, be unapproved and rejected as a counterfeit].[28]
Your joy comes as you see those being trained by you walking and living up
to the truth.[29]
Be sure you then seek out someone you can bless as you have been
blessed: your own personal “Timothys” that you can pour into as a Paul. Your joy will abound when you see the
difference you can make in the lives of others. Your own faith will grow as you
encourage others too. Do you make the
time to have a “Timothy” or two in your life?
Conclusion
Much of the New Testament is written to Churches. Every
time the Bible says one another, it
is referring to what church members should look like to the world in order to
display His glory. Growing in relationships with other believers shows the
grace and glory of God to love others, forgive, selflessly give, and transform
lives.
God’s Word is for His glory and for our good. When we learn to trust Him
and obey His word, He instructs [us] and
teach[es] [us] in the way [we] should go,[30]
and He has given us everything we
need for life and for godliness. This power was given to us through knowledge
of the One Who called us by His own glory and integrity.[31]
If every person would seek to be a Barnabas, pursue a Paul and train a
Timothy, we could always realize the process the Lord has wondrously given us
to grow as people and believers. We will never lack purpose nor encouragement
in our lives.
We will realize the comfort and consolation of having a “Barnabas” to
walk through life with who empowers, encourages and understands, and who we can
be an intimate integral part of their lives
as well by empowering, encouraging and understanding. We will not become proud,
realizing we are still “in training” under a “Paul” at all times. We will learn
that the things that have helped us through life we can steward and pass on to
others, as we train a “Timothy” – knowing that we can still have something to
give even though we haven’t yet “arrived.”
[10]
Proverbs 11.14 (MSG)
[16] Proverbs 15.12 (AMP)
[20] 2 Corinthians 1.3–7 (GW)
[24] 2 Corinthians 3.2–3 (GW)
[28] 1 Corinthians 9.25–27 (AMP)
