What is the gift of encouragement?

The theme of encouragement is intertwined throughout the Word of God with our hope for eternal salvation through the saving grace of Jesus Christ.  The Apostle Paul summarizes this point with the words – “May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.” (II Thessalonians 2:16-17 NIV)

As for the spiritual gift of encouragement, the Apostle Paul lists the gift in his letter to the Romans.

“Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many from one body, and each member belongs to the others.  We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.  If a man’s gift is…encouraging, let him encourage….” (Romans 12:4-6, 8 NIV)

One of the greatest examples of a person with the gift of encouragement is a Levite named Joseph, whom the apostles later called Barnabas – the Son of Encouragement – after he sold a field he owned and brought the money to the apostles’ feet. (Acts 4:36-37)  Barnabas later brought Saul [the Apostle Paul] to the apostles and encouraged them to have Saul join them as one of the apostles, even though they were all afraid of Saul’s past history and doubted the authenticity of his conversion. (Acts 9:26-28)  Barnabas later worked side-by-side with the Apostle Paul and was a great encouragement to him as well as the people around him, evident by his response at Antioch.

“Now those who had been scattered by the persecution in connection with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, telling the message only to Jews.  Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus.  The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.  News of this reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch.  When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all of their hearts. (Acts 11:19-23 NIV)

      

In summary, encouragement serves as an integral part in the work of the Lord as everyone is encouraged to comfort one another as fellow believers in Jesus Christ.  The Apostle Paul reaffirms this point in his letter to the Thessalonians – “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” (I Thessalonians 4:11 NIV)  In similar manner, the Holy Spirit entrusts certain individuals with the spiritual gift of encouragement, as he guides them to provide reassurance and solace to others in helping them reaffirm their faith in God.