Be a Barnabas

I got a compliment today.

It was the first one I've gotten at work...ever.

And you know what? It made my whole day! Ever since I've known what the Five Love Languages are, I knew that mine is "Words of Affirmation", which means that unsolicited compliments mean the world to me. Being told that I'm loved sends me to the moon, but an insult is hardly forgotten.

All this to say, I take compliments very seriously. I like to receive them as well as give them. And they're not just telling your friend or co-worker that her earring are really pretty or that she's having a good hair day. Those are nice too, but I'm talking about the compliments that truly mean something.

Compliments of gratitude. Compliments of acknowledgement. Compliments of character. Those are the ones that matter.

I vividly remember being at K-Kountry years ago and for the closing ceremonies, I won the "Barnabas Award", and I remember being kind of peeved about it. I didn't want to be called Barnabas! Who the heck is Barnabas?! When I was a young Kanakuk Kamper, I wanted the FUAGNEM award. (The "Fired Up And Going Nuts Every Minute" award). But once I learned who Barnabas was, I realized that I earned my award honestly.

Barnabas was introduced to us in the book of Acts. Here he was selling some land to help provide for fellow Christian believers. The apostles gave him the name Barnabas which means "Son of Encouragement". Barnabas had a solid reputation and stuck by Paul's side when he was trying to lead a Godly lifestyle and get involved in the ministry after leading a life of sin, so far away from Christ. Barnabas was there, encouraging him along the way.

After I learned what the "Barnabas Award" meant, I was thrilled, because I was so excited to know that people saw me as an encourager. And that's when I knew that that would be one of my roles as a Christian; to edify and encourage those around me.

But I've learned that having the love language of verbal affirmation is not always a good thing. Reason being is that when you are around people who could care less about affirming me, I take it very personally and end up getting my feelers hurt. There are many people out there who get absolutely nothing out of being encouraged, which absolutely BAFFLES me to no end, because if I get one single solitary compliment, I'm good for the rest of the day. And vice versa; one hateful comment, and I'm done. I'm down. I dwell on it and have a hard time rising above the negativity.

But I think that--especially as believers--we need to make it a priority to be more like Barnabas, to encourage others willingly and honestly, especially if we're leading someone to the cross. If your love language is not verbal affirmation, I encourage you to figure out how to incorporate it into your life. How can you affirm others? How can you send positivity someone's way? How can you encourage someone else, letting them know they're doing a good job?

I charge you to figure out how you can be a Barnabas this week. Who in your life needs some encouragement? Who do you need to uplift? Seek out that person, and lift their spirits, whether you give them a compliment or just by saying "Thank you for all that you do." You'd be surprised at how far a compliment can take someone :) Just ask me!
Remember, encouraging one another is biblical. Just because your love language is not verbal affirmation, you're not given a "pass" on encouraging others :) So do it!

Here's my encouragement to you: I love you guys and appreciate you all reading my blog. You have no idea how much you fill my bucket whenever I see that I've had readers check up on "A Deeper Life". So thank you guys, so very much :)

"I thank my God every time I remember you." Philippians 1:3