Barnabas the Encourager

I have always loved the story in the Bible of Barnabas, the Encourager.  That wasn't his real name.  He got a new name by his actions and he is stuck with that.   He encouraged the small motley group of Jesus' followers to take chances --and he took chances on people and the movement.  He sold land and brought the money to the followers so that they could have some "working capital".  He encouraged the disciples to accept Paul even though he had been out to get them a few years before.  He and Paul later separated because he put his money on John Mark and he encouraged him to go for the gusto.

Barnabas was there.  He took chances.  He put his money where his mouth was.   He earned a book in the Bible which Paul must have been reluctant to title. But he earned it anyway.   He had a ministry which gave birth to others, someone has said.   Wouldn't that be something I would love for someone to say about me?

I want to be Barnabas.  I want people to say that I encouraged them.  I don't want them to remember me as someone who was not a positive role-model.  Help me, Father, each day to walk worthily of being a Barnabas in a cut-throat society of uncaring people.