Don’t you like being with genuine encouragers?  Me too!  Barnabas, how I would have liked being around him. 

  The following is a paraphrase of Acts 4:36-37
Name: Joseph
Tribe: Levi – the priestly tribe
Birthplace: Cyprus
Nickname: Barnabas
Meaning of nickname: “Son of Encouragement”
Faith in action: he sold a tract of land which he owned and gave the selling price to the apostles to use as they saw fit

  From the above information the following can be ascertained:
Wisdom before generosity: Barnabas believed the integrity of the apostles, he knew they were honest men who dealt with honesty…or he would not have given them the money. 

  Let’s consider his nickname: Barnabas.  The apostles gave him that nickname.  How would you be nicknamed by the apostles if they knew you? 

  Barnabas was a builder-up of people. 
  Flattery is never an honest encourager.  Flattery usually means something is expected in return.   

True encouragement is not hypocritical.
True encouragers never ‘stab another in the back.’ 
True encouragers keep confidences.  
True encouragers are not ‘nicey-nice’ one minute and ‘stinky’ the next.
True encouragers choose to have a genuine love for others.
True encouragers are honest, speaking the truth of God in love to another – (not in anger, resentment or even with dislike). 

  Are you a true encourager?
  How can you be a true encourager today?  Even in the next hour?
  What person are you going to encourage?
  How will you encourage another?  With a phone call, a note, perhaps take them to breakfast or lunch?