In Courage: Bipolar Encouragement

Hopefully by now you see the enormous power encouragement can have if it is actually put into practice. Unfortunately, encouragement is not bias towards being used only for good. When we encourage someone, we have the opportunity to either encourage them to do what is right or to do what is wrong. Encouragement's bipolarity, or its potential to be used by two extremes (good or evil in this context), can be a dangerous thing as it gives evil the same amount of access to its power and influence as it does to good.

Peer pressure (which is nothing more than a glorified term used to describe evil encouragement) is a very common use of encouragement for negative purposes. Like many, throughout my school years I was faced with plenty of peer pressure. There were times when my peers would pressure me to do drugs, go to parties to get drunk, mess around with girls, and plenty of other things that the Bible clearly says to stay away from. Fortunately for me, I grew up in a Christian home where things like that were discussed and I was able to steer clear of what I was being pressured to do.

But what about the people who were baby Christians at that time or weren't Christians at all? Were they able to steer clear from all of those things? I suppose we'll never know. However, based upon the fact that many of my old school friends are now consumed by lifestyles that God never intended for them to have, I think it's safe to say that either a lack of good encouragement or a surplus of evil encouragement in their lives gave way to the lifestyles that they chose.

It's quite possible that we may be the only positive encouragement someone is exposed to. Therefore, it is very important for us as Christians to get in a habit of encouraging others to do what is right. One way to do this is to watch what we say: "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). We must also realize that proximity, or nearness in location, isn't necessary for encouragement. You don't have to be within speaking distance of someone in order to encourage them. Actions speak louder than words, thus we must make sure our actions provide a good example that will encourage others to do the same.

Are you doing your best to be an encouragement to those around you by watching what you say and by keeping your actions in check? Or do you encourage others to do things that are not right? The sooner we realize that encouragement is bipolar, the sooner we will be able to put into practice the kind of encouragement that God wants us to produce: encouragement that causes others to see God and His will for their lives more clearly. We should not be like the wicked people that Romans 1:19-32 talks about; people who do things that are detestable to God and, even worse, encourage others to do the same. We should strive to be examples of the amazing life-changing love that God provides for all that choose accept Him.

In Courage: Encouragement Defined

Because we live in a fallen world, there will be times when we will want to quit trying to be the people God has called us to be. We'll go through times of uncertainty about where God wants us to go or what He wants us to do. We'll be faced with trials that cause us to believe God has left us and that we must continue alone. We may even begin to believe that living life for Christ is not worth it and He couldn't possibly be the only way to Heaven. What do we do during these times and how can we help our fellow Christ-followers make it through them as well? The answer is encouragement.

What does encouragement mean? According to Dictionary.com, encouragement means to inspire with courage--to provide "the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain, etc., without fear." I don't know about you, but I have realized that I become most passionate about living my life for Christ when I surround myself with fellow believers who constantly encourage me to allow God to change me and mold me into the person He wants me to be. Let's face it, Christianity is not a lone ranger lifestyle. We are relational beings and, as such, we need to bind together and lift each other up (Hebrews 10:25, 1 Thessalonians 5:11).

It's important to understand that encouragement should be a two-way street. Not only should we get into a habit of encouraging others, but we should also surround ourselves with people who are encouraging to us. Paul understood this and mentioned it in his letter to the Christians in Rome (Romans 1:12). He knew that encouragement should be a practice that is carried out throughout the whole community of believers, for even those who encourage others need to be encouraged themselves!

Are you an encouragement to the people around you? Are you making an effort to be with other believers in order to encourage and be encouraged? Throughout His time on earth, Jesus constantly encouraged His disciples. We too should encourage others by reminding them of the amazing and undeserving love that Jesus provides and by being there for them during the hard times that this life brings. As you go throughout your day, think of some ways that you can become a better encourager to those whom God has placed in your path and make some plans to meet with fellow believers so that you can be encouraged as well. Take comfort from the fact that we do not live this life alone; Christ is faithful to us and surely will be with us always, even to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20).