Month: April 2022

“So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.”

1 Thessalonians 5:11 NLT

We could all use a little encouragement sometimes, right? It’s so easy to become weighed down with the stressors of life. Maybe you find yourself on the precipice of discouragement because of a prognosis from the doctor. Perhaps you haven’t hit the benchmarks at your job you were hoping to achieve, or you feel like you’re not getting through to your kids. The local or world news is heavy on your heart. You are waiting on an answer from the Lord to a very specific prayer, and have yet to hear anything. 

It could be all of these things, or none of them. Whatever the scenario, we’ve all experienced a moment (or several) of feeling discouraged or disheartened. It can be overwhelming and a bit lonely, too.

When Paul wrote a letter to believers in Thessalonica, he urged them to “encourage one another and build each other up, just as you are already doing.” It’s interesting that Paul makes a point to tell them to do something they are already doing. Seems a bit redundant or obvious at first. But when we dive deeper, we learn that Paul is encouraging as well as instructing them.   

For the believers in Thessalonica, Paul was cheering them on. He was recognizing the good that they were doing in their community and prompting them to continue to do the same. The word encourage means to give support, confidence, or hope to someone. And the Bible is filled with examples of supporting, bringing confidence, or hope. Here are just a few examples from the Word. 

SUPPORT.

To support someone (or something) is to hold them up or assist in keeping them upright. 

“Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.”

Hebrews 10:24 NLT

“Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.”

Ephesians 4:29 NLT

“Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up.”

Proverbs 12:25 NLT

CONFIDENCE.

The feeling or belief that one can rely on someone or something; firm trust. 

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.”

Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT

“But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.”

Jeremiah 17:7-8 NLT

“For the word of the Lord holds true, and we can trust everything he does. He loves whatever is just and good; the unfailing love of the Lord fills the earth.”

Psalms 33:4-5 NLT

 

HOPE.

A feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen.

“I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.”

Ephesians 1:18 NLT

“Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.”

Hebrews 10:23-25 NLT

“But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.”

Isaiah 40:31 NLT

This scripture may have been addressed to a community of believers, but it can be applied to our individual circumstances as well. We can go to the Bible for encouragement, we can look to those in our community, and we can also spread this to others. There are so many ways to bring hope, confidence or support to someone in your life. Prayer is one example. Be gracious in your interactions. Try to see things from their perspective. Share scriptures with them.

These are a few scriptures that could be helpful as you encourage one another (and yourself, too). 

“So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.””

Deuteronomy 31:6 NLT

“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”

Isaiah 41:10 NLT

“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.””

John 16:33 NLT

“I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Romans 15:13 NLT

“So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.”

1 Corinthians 15:58 NLT

“For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory. What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.”

Romans 8:29-32, 35, 37 NLT

“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.”

John 14:27 NLT

“And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him.”

1 John 5:14 NLT

Be encouraged – God sees you. He hears you. He knows exactly where you are. And He cares deeply for you. 

Money is the root of all evil?

 

Money is the root of all evil – that’s what the Bible says, right? Chances are you’ve come across this phrase in one place or another in your life, but you won’t find it in the Bible! What the Bible actually says is: 

 

“The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.” – 1 Timothy 6:10

 

See the difference? Money itself is not evil, but loving money leads to evil.

 

Unfortunately, Christian culture has often confused money itself with the sin of loving money. We know that Jesus had followers who were wealthy, such as Joseph of Arimithea, but as far as we know, Jesus never condemned them for their wealth. His criticism was reserved for those like the Pharisees, who are described as “lovers of money” (Luke 16:14). 

 

Why shouldn’t we love money?

 

Money can be an idol.

 

“No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.” – Luke 16:13

 

If we prioritize having money over serving God, we will make our decisions based on financial gain rather than obedience to Him. This might lead to violating a general moral principle, such as the case of someone who gains wealth by deceiving or harming others. But it also might distract you from a specific plan God has for your life!

 

Money also becomes an idol when we trust in our bank account more than we trust in God. When life is difficult, where do you turn? Do you expect your money to solve your problems or God? 

 

When you don’t trust someone, your heart isn’t fully open to a relationship with them. The same is true with God.

 

Financial wealth is deceptive.

 

“People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.” – 1 Timothy 6:9

 

“Still others, like seed sown among thorns, heard the word; but the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.” – Mark 4:19

 

Our culture believes money will solve all problems and make us happy. It’s true that money does solve some problems, and a certain amount is necessary for general well-being. We need a place to live, food, clothes, and so on. 

 

But the Bible says pursuing excessive money leads to disappointment. No amount of money will ever be enough to fill the God-shaped hole in our hearts. Money may help our lives function smoothly, but it doesn’t satisfy the deepest desires of the human heart.

 

Jesus says we are like plants choked by thorns when we pursue wealth expecting it to make us happy. We can only flourish and find real joy when we look to God alone as our provider!

 

It can make us greedy.

 

“Whoever loves money never has money enough” – Ecclesiastes 5:10

 

The problem with greed is that it’s never satisfied, no matter how much you have. When you love money, you’ll never be content with your salary. You’ll always need the next new house, car, gadget – which means more money, and more, and more. And that’s a miserable way to live!

 

So how should we treat money then?

 

Money is a part of our daily lives; we can’t avoid it, nor should we try to! Again, money itself is not evil. It only becomes something ugly when we desire it more than God. 

Here’s what the Bible says about using money in our daily lives:

 

Work hard to provide for yourself and others. 

 

“All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.” – Proverbs 14:23

 

“He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.” – Ephesians 4:28

 

The Bible encourages diligence and hard work – and hard work that leads to profit! It’s not wrong to earn money and use it to live. We should provide for ourselves, our families, and those in need around us to the best of our ability. And as long as we are able to work, we shouldn’t be lazy and rely on someone else to take care of us.

 

Practice contentment.

 

“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” – Hebrews 13:5

 

Ultimately, God is our provider. There may be seasons when we have an abundance of money and seasons when we have a lack. God is with us through it all, and He knows what we need. 

 

God works to provide not just for our physical needs but also for our spiritual needs. He wants to teach us new things and help us grow! 

 

Contentment is an act of trust. It says: “God, I choose to trust you and give thanks no matter what my circumstances are. You know exactly what I need!” 

 

Give your money away. 

 

“A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.” – Proverbs 11:25

 

“Remember this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” – 2 Corinthians 9:6-7

 

The Bible says that we should be generous with our money, giving freely as opportunities arise. For some, this might look like a traditional tithe of 10% of all income. For others, it might be more spontaneous!

 

Giving is about helping those in need, but it’s also about the attitude of our hearts. It helps us let go of attachment to money (love of money) and instead trust God. When we give, we become generous, open-hearted, and joyful. When we hold onto things for ourselves, we become selfish, closed-off, and unhappy. 

 

“Sowing” or giving generously allows us to have an undivided love for God that isn’t diminished by a competing love of money.  

 

Conclusion

 

A lot of people think the Bible is out to prevent us from having any fun. When it comes to money, it can seem like our lives would be so much better if we could just make a million dollars! Our culture certainly tells us that. 

 

The Bible warns, however, that loving money doesn’t actually lead to happiness. Instead, it offers us a different path to life in the fullest – a path on which we serve God instead of money.

 

What might happen if you actually believed and practiced what the Bible says about money? How might your life become more free, exciting, and fulfilled?