...but I got to chewing on something yesterday. I don't even know why, actually.
Question to myself: Is my need for encouragement the result of my sin nature?
My first response: Yes, I think it probably is. Without sin I would be in perfect standing with God and my sense of worth etc. would be completely fulfilled. The only reason I need someone to say, 'good job' is because I am afraid, insecure and mindful that I may do a poor job. Fear, insecurities and doing a poor job are, I think, the result of my sin nature.
Then I thought: The Bible has several passages reminding us of the importance of encouragement and challenging us to encourage one another. Barnabus, is held up as a crucial leader in the early church primarily because of his encouraging nature.
And then I thought: Why would God want us doing something that seemingly only serves to feed our sin nature? But, obviously, encouraging one another is a biblical principle...so maybe HOW we encourage each other is the issue.
And then....well right about then I stopped thinking, put my headphones back on and turned Johny Cash up real loud.
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6 comments:
I'm no theologian ethier...
I agree with you that it must be the "How" of encouraging that is the issue. Whenever we read about encouraging in the Bible it seems to focus on reminding others or holding others accountable in their walk with the Lord and focusing on Him and His returning. It's not so much telling someone they are doing a good job or reassuring them that they are affective or loved.
Good questions! Encouragement comes in many forms - a look, an e-mail, a card, a comment - as well as through someone working with you to help something grow inside of you that they can see and so often you can't. It seems very much how Jesus looks at us and can see the beauty in what he created and encourages us to grow more and more like him....despite ourselves.
"Well done good and faithful servant" indeed.
Hey Kurt, I agree that need for encouragement comes from our sin nature (but this is the first time i've heard of that). However in regards to your 3rd thought, I don't think encouragement feeds our sin nature but instead pushes us to improve above the sin nature as we strive to become more like Christ. Encouragement should help to defeat the insecurity, fearm etc that are the result of our sinfulness.
Hey and we are all theologains to some degree. Theo = God, ology = reason, thought, study. Therefore a theologian is anyone who reasons about God
Jeff...I tend to agree with you concerning encouragment serving to help us rise above our sinfulness and become more like Christ.
True, by that definition I am a theologian. I just think that most of my 'reasonings' aren't always very 'reasonable'! :)
Why do you think most people do the "pat on the back" type of encouragement instead of the "accountability" encouragement. I have a ton of people in my life that pat me on the back....but very few that will truly hold me accountbale and encourage me in my walk....and honestly encourage who I am instead of what I do. Sorry - this gets a little off topic....but that is what your post and Joe's post made me think about
Katie...My hunch is because it's easier and less messy. I like the verse in Proverbs that says "The wounds of a friend bring healing." This must mean that part of the job of a friend or accountability partner is to encourage in areas that hurt, but ultimately help us grow in our walk.
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