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.
(Acts 4:36-37 ESV)

Barnabas, the son of encouragement.

We’ve just come out of Pastor Appreciation Month (October). It’s a great month where we get encouraged. Encouragement isn’t just for pastors, everyone needs it… but it’s nice to have a time that we get some special attention encouragement from the church. Unlike what one of our parishioners posted on facebook, what we do is not the same as our other ministry leaders in the church. We are on 24 hour call. We also carry a great weight in the church… but I’m ranting… our special appreciation is a nice reward for the burden we bare. Pastor Appreciation gets 25 thumbs up!

However, like I said… everyone needs encouragement. And there’s one encouragement that speaks louder than words. The kind that you can take to a bank.

Notice above that Barnabas didn’t come and tell the apostles that they were doing a great job, or that he appreciated them. Nope, he took a HUGE amount of money and laid it at their feet.

Don’t misunderstand me, I’m not saying you should give tons of money to ministers to be an encourager. I’m saying to give lots of money to lots of different people. Sometimes a dramatic investment will be the dramatic encouragement someone needs to take a dramatic leap into a dramatically different level of their family, career, education, etc…

I remember leaving for my first real, can’t come back home ever again worship pastor position. I had been living with a family, the McMillans (Tom and Karen) after a tragic family situation that left me without a place to live. It was a dramatic gift to me… it gave me time to sort through my next step.

Then, they took it up a notch. They threw me an, “Atta Boy Shower.” They brought people together from throughout the church and they furnished my apartment. The church rented a bigger moving truck for me after that shower. I was ENCOURAGED.

I have a few times that something like this has happened.

Find someone and invest in them… financially. It is one of the most dramatic encouragers out there.

Be blessed to be a blessing.