Barnabas
Some people just seem to have a bubbly personality. They always see the bright side of any situation and seem to very seldom need encouraging. However, the rest of us here in the real world seem to have our ups and downs and often need a few words of encouragement to lift us up. As we continue our journey through acts this week, rather than taking a look at a particular story or event, we’ll instead look at a person.
His given name was actually Joseph, but the apostles in the church gave him the nickname Barnabas. Unlike many nicknames in our society, Barnabas’ nickname had meaning behind it. It meant, as the Bible tells us, “son of encouragement,” and as we look at the life and actions of Barnabas throughout the book of Acts, we can see that this name was rightly given.
When we’re first introduced to Barnabas in Acts 4:36-37, we see him selling land and laying the money at the feet of the apostles. This seems like quite a generous gift, and as we look at it more closely we see that that’s exactly what it was. Many of the early believers were doing this sort of thing, but selling your possessions and giving the money to the church wasn’t required by any means. But why did he do it?
When we stop to think about that question the answer is quite clear. Why do any of us give money to a person, an event, or organization? Why do we put our change in the Salvation Army kettles at Christmas? The simple answer is because we believe in them and their mission. We believe that there are people less fortunate, those that are in need of the salvation that Christ offers, and we believe that the Salvation Army, with our gift, can reach those people. This gift by Barnabas was given to the apostles not only so that they might have the means to serve the poor and spread the gospel but also to encourage them to continue to do what they’d already been doing.
However, giving gifts was not the only way that we see Barnabas living up to his name. We see multiple times Barnabas went to bat for the underdog, first with Saul and then with John Mark. Saul had spent much time hunting Christians and persecuting them. As such, it’s no wonder that the disciples didn’t trust him after his conversion. However, the support from a trusted apostle, Barnabas, encouraged them to reconsider their views. The same with John Mark. He had abandoned Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey, but as they prepared for the second Barnabas wanted to bring John Mark. Just as he did with Saul, Barnabas went to bat for him. What an encouragement to have somebody believe in you, to have somebody put their own reputation on the line in order to support you.
But Barnabas took it even a step further when he took to mentoring Saul. In Acts 11:19-26 we see Barnabas journeying to Antioch. After arriving in the city and encouraging the people, he immediately leaves for Tarsus in search of Saul. Not only had he vouched for him, he now took him under his wing, brought him alongside him as they ministered together.
And so today, I want to be an encouragement to you. I see great things in store for this church, for this group of people. I would not be here if I didn’t believe that God was working right here in this congregation. I believe that we have what it takes to accomplish our mission of making disciples.
But I also want to encourage you to continue spurring one another on toward love and good deeds, encouraging one another (Hebrews 10:24-25). Whether that’s through a card in the mail, a Facebook message, giving generously to a particular ministry or to the church in general, or pulling somebody beside you, encouraging them, going to bat for them, and even taking them under your wing, we have work to do, and I know that we can do it if we stand together.