Sermon Central
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On Being A Good Encourager Series
Contributed by Sherm Nichols on Nov 20, 2011 (message contributor)
Summary: To show how we are good encouragers when, from pure motives we deliberately give the message that truly encourages
“Mr. Nicholas Sherman? This is first bank of the last chance, and we want to compliment you on your excellent credit record. Our company wants to reward responsible people like you with our new Visa plutonium card. You owe this to yourself for all your hard work!” ------ they’re very encouraging! Still, when that friendly voice sounds on the other end of the phone, I have to honestly say I don’t trust their motives. I think they want something more than to just call me up and compliment me!
Encouragement is an effort to change another person’s direction – to get them to think and feel differently. That’s what informercials are for, isn’t it? So, what’s the difference between being a good encourager and being a good manipulator? It’s called pure motives.
For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts. You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed--God is our witness. We were not looking for praise from men, not from you or anyone else.
No ignorance, impurity, deceit, pleasing men, flattering, ulterior motives, seeking men’s glory. The value of Paul’s encouragement was due in part to his motives in giving it.
Ill - Sometimes kind deeds come from mixed motives. In Miami, FL, vandals had cut down 6 royal palms along Flagler St. The palms were very expensive, and Dade County authorities weren't sure if they could replace them very soon. But then someone donated 6 more and even had them planted. The old ones had been about 15' tall and provided a nice foreground for a "Fly Delta" billboard. The new palms were 35' tall they completely hid the sign.
By the way, the new donor was Eastern Airlines.
Have you ever had someone doing you favors or a kindness and later found out that they were actually after something? How does that leave you feeling?
Look at the motives of Paul and his companions:
We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.
encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.
In other words, Paul worked at encouraging them because he really loved these people, and then because he really wanted them to be obedient to God. See, the right motive, the one that will make you a good encourager, is to have enough love for someone that you seek his / her success.
The reason we’re sometimes weak at this isn’t just technique; it’s first a heart matter! It’s because often we don’t care enough, we don’t have enough love for the other guy for him or her to do well at our expense.
Encouragement has to be selfless – it’s driven by a genuine desire to see someone else succeed. So it takes right motives, pure motives. If you’re going to become a good encourager, start by taking a look at your motives.
