Henry Ford once said that the ability to encourage others is one of life’s finest assets. The auto inventor and manufacturer knew the power of encouragement.
At the beginning of his career, when he made a drawing of his newly built engine for Thomas Edison. Young Ford had endured criticism and ridicule. Most mechanical experts of that day were convinced that electric carriages would be the popular passenger cars of the future.
But attending a dinner one evening at which Edison was present, Ford began explaining his engine to men nearest him at table. He noticed that Edison, seated several chairs away, was listening. Finally, the great man moved closer and asked the young inventor to make a drawing.
When the crude sketch was complete, Edison studied it intently, then suddenly banged his fist on the table. “Young man,” he said, “that’s the thing! You have it!”
Years later, Ford recalled, “The thump of that fist upon the table was worth worlds to me.”
There is great power in encouragement. Calvary has been studying through the book of Acts. In that study, we have previously seen this power through the one called, “Son of Encouragement.” Barnabas lived up to his name. He changed the lives of people in the church, of a new believer, (Saul who became Paul), and of young John Mark.
The power of encouragement is demonstrated in the life of Paul as he continues the third missionary journey. Working through Acts it would be easy to bypass the next section.
Acts 20:1-6 When the uproar had ended, Paul sent for the disciples and, after encouraging them, said goodbye, and set out for Macedonia. 2 He traveled through that area, speaking many words of encouragement to the people, and finally arrived in Greece, 3 where he stayed three months. Because some Jews had plotted against him just as he was about to sail for Syria, he decided to go back through Macedonia. 4 He was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy also, and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia. 5 These men went on ahead and waited for us at Troas. 6 But we sailed from Philippi after the Festival of Unleavened Bread, and five days later joined the others at Troas, where we stayed seven days.
Paul travels here and goes there. People join the trip in one place, people leave in another. Easy enough to miss the central thought. What is Paul doing on these travels? Speaking many words of encouragement. He has adopted the mission manifested in Barnabas. He is now focused on encouraging.
This mission is commanded in the new church. Paul himself wrote of the command in 1 Thessalonians 5:11, “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.”
During this season as we celebrate graduates we are wise to remember these commands. We honor kids from kindergarten through college. We gather to encourage them and build them up. And do they need it! Students are beaten down in so many ways. They are desperate for encouragement.
Hebrews 10:25 continues this challenge, “Not neglecting to meet together as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near.”
The time is drawing ever nearer for Jesus’ return and the day of judgment. The world is changing and not even the most optimistic can say it is for the better.
Consider the changes that have occurred in the lives of those who are just graduating high school. During their high school years, they have seen culture change radically first redefining marriage, and now redefining sexuality. The norms they would have expected in elementary school have now been obliterated.
They endured an unrelenting global pandemic. They were sent home and then went through a season of alternating between online schooling and being physically in the building. Finally, things returned to “normal.” Or did they?
As they finished their high school years they are bombarded with events: war in Ukraine, skyrocketing gas prices. Although they may not have understood the “why?” they knew that inflation raised the cost of everything.
These new high school graduates now face a world that is changing quickly And they will need an ever-increasing level of encouragement. The cards, the parties, and the gifts will soon pass, and a new school year will bring new seniors. But these students will still need encouragement.
