ENCOURAGEMENT

The pew where he sat is now vacant.  The class he once taught now has a replacement teacher.  Occasionally you will hear someone say, "Whatever happened to brother so-and-so?"

What happened indeed!  We are quick to explain that this brother's faith must have been weak or that worldly friends influenced him.  Maybe his priorities were misplaced or that the pleasures of sin were too much for him. All these things may have been true, but we must not ever ignore Romans 14:7: "None of us liveth unto himself."  If we are truthful with ourselves, we must accept some of the responsibility for his failure!  Just as God inquired of Cain: "Where is Abel thy brother," we must be aware that our brother may not be as strong as we are and to look out for them.  When that brother was faithfully serving God, did we seek to encourage him in those good works?  Many Christians labor year after year with no appreciation.  Some brethren become easily discouraged when they are not reinforced with love and appreciation. Their best intentions die out for lack of a feeling of involvement and appreciation.  As a result, they become the prey of Satan.

God created in us the need for love and appreciation just as he gave us the need for food or sleep.  Some take the attitude that if nothing is being said, then things are all right.  Mrs. Thomas Carlyle penned these words; "Mr. Carlyle never praises me.  If he says nothing, I must be content that everything is all right."  There are probably fewer problems in the church that exist because of ingratitude than those of unexpressed gratitude.

Hebrews 10:24 says we are to provoke one another to love and good works.  Doing this will not fill all the vacant pews, but it will keep many filled which otherwise would become vacant.

Paul