“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing” (I Thes 5:11)
The Greek word translated “exhortation” in the list of spiritual gifts can mean encouragement, comfort, or consolation. It is the same word Jesus uses when He calls the Holy Spirit the comforter. People with this gift lift you up when you feel down. People with this gift spur you on to love and good deeds. Everyone likes to be around them because they make you feel as if you matter and as if God will use you. These people are encouragers and are often saying things like “I appreciate your heart for people” or “Your serving has been a great blessing to others” or “You can do that. God is with you” or “I’ve heard your testimony, and it is powerful” or a thousand other statements like these.
These people will call you just to see how you are doing. They will show up at your house uninvited because they were passing by and were thinking about you and just wanted to let you know they were thinking about you. They use words to build you up. Those words may take the form of face-to-face conversation, phone calls, emails, notes, or any other medium.
But encouragers are not restricted to words. When you are going through a hard time, they will send you a gift card to a restaurant or maybe even take you there themselves just because they want to encourage you. They may throw you a surprise party just to let you know that you mean something to them.
These people say with Caleb, “With God we can take the land.” People with this gift have much faith, a positive attitude, and a love for others. Encouragers are not necessarily leaders (though they can be). They love to come alongside you and spur you on and encourage you.
But the spiritual gift of encouragement is more than a positive attitude. It is more than making people feel good about themselves. The purpose of this gift is to strengthen people’s faith and help them walk more closely with Jesus. When you see words or deeds that make people feel good but never help them grow spiritually, you are not looking at the spiritual gift of encouragement.
The Importance of Encouragement
Encouragers are the morale boosters and the faith spurrers of the church.
This gift combats discouragement and depression and calls the church to take steps of faith and to trust that God will work.
Strengths of Encouragers
- strong faith
- joy
- a positive attitude
- a love for people
- speaking spiritual words of encouragement
- lifting people up
- often good listeners
- full of hope
- can motivate others
Weaknesses of Encouragers
- sometimes neglect confrontation or hard conversations
- can be oblivious to real pain
- can be too optimistic
- can be people pleasers
Examples of People with this Gift
Deborah, Boaz, Jonathan, Barnabbas
Good Roles for People with this Gift
spouse, parent, friend, mentor, coach, counselor, visiting the sick
