Speak the Encouraging Word
The Importance of Encouraging Others
For the religious, God is an encourager; his words of strength are found throughout the Scriptures. The encouragement of the Holy Spirit helped the early church grow (Acts 9:31). To emulate God, his followers need to speak encouraging words. It begins by taking responsibility for one’s words and actively seeking to minister grace to others.
To Encourage Means to Inspire with Courage
The basic meaning of encourage is to give courage to. Courage, according to Merriam-Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary is “mental or moral strength enabling one to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty firmly and resolutely.” To encourage means to instill courage and confidence to act or endure, sometimes in the face of trying circumstances.
Encouragement instills hope and promotes perseverance, which is necessary for spiritual maturity (James 1:4). Paul advised the believers in Thessalonica to “encourage one another and build each other up” (1 Thessalonians 5:11 NIV). Challenges, hardships and inevitable disappointments can thwart anyone’s progress in their life course and walk of faith. The words of Christ’s disciples should help others to keep on keeping on.
Taking Responsibility for One's Words
The writer of Proverbs admits that “Some people make cutting remarks, but the words of the wise bring healing.” (12:18 NLT) Sarcasm and unbridled criticism can cause hurt and damage to fragile souls. But godly wisdom dictates that one’s speech should promote spiritual and emotional health. This entails taking responsibility for what comes out of one’s mouth. Starting with a clean heart is foundational for, as Jesus said, “...out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12:34).
Jesus also warned that all people must give an account on judgment day for every “idle word” they have spoken (Matthew 12:36). Idle means lazy, barren or unproductive. Productive, fruitful words are those that encourage and build up others.
The first step for believers in taking responsibility for their words is to monitor and consider seriously their manner of speaking. It may help to compare what they say and how they say it with how Jesus might speak to any individual or group (see 1 Peter 4:11). Sometimes restraint and silence are better than speaking one’s mind. If something is spoken that was less than gracious, apologizing and asking for forgiveness may be in order. When Christians speak truth, Paul advised that they should speak it in love. (Ephesians 4:15)
Speaking Gracious Words
Paul counseled the Ephesians to let no “…unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” (Ephesians 4:29 NIV)
This suggests that foul speech of all kinds should be avoided and instead traded for thoughts and words that convey grace, hope, love and help to those in their present situation. Many who sport a smile and say they are fine may actually be starving for a heartening word, something to keep them on their feet (see Job 4:4). Although speaking receives the emphasis here, it helps to ask people how they are doing and listen for clues to what they need. Answering with warmth and sincerity, bearing in mind the heart of Christ for others, aids in ministering grace to the hearer.
The prophet Isaiah explained that God gave him “the tongue of the learned” so that he would know how to say the right thing at the right time to refresh the weary. (Isaiah 50:4 NKJ) Asking God for this blessing before facing a world in need of encouragement is, for the religious, another way to promote conversation “seasoned with salt,” words that minister his grace. (Colossians 4:6)
Conclusion
To encourage means to inspire with courage. Encouragement instills hope, which promotes perseverance in trials, a requisite for spiritual growth and maturity.
Taking responsibility for one’s words entails monitoring what one says to ensure that it is positive and upbuilding. Gracious words convey hope, help and love according to the needs of the listener.
Sources
- Merriam-Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Inc., 2003.
- NIV Study Bible, Zondervan Corporation, 1985.
- Strong’s Greek and Hebrew Dictionary, NavPress Software (database), 1993.
Encourage One Another
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