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Discouraging Others

The Psalmist warned, “Let not them that wait on thee, O Lord GOD of hosts, be ashamed for my sake: let not those that seek thee be confounded for my sake, O God of Israel” (Psalm 69:6).

As we reach forward to God, we all know how frustrating it is to be discouraged in our efforts to live the Christian life. Knowing this, we should give extra caution that we do nothing that would discourage someone else as they try to make progress in their Christian walk. It is a great offense to the Lord to be a “stumbling block,” particularly to those who’ve not yet acquired much strength of their own. Jesus said, “Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come! It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones” (Luke 17:1-2). It’s a serious sin to discourage others.

Furthermore, Jesus upbraided some of the religious leaders of His day, saying: “Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered” (Luke 11:52). As “so-called” expert students of the Scriptures, these discouraging individuals might have been expected to be the first to recognize Jesus as the Messiah. When they refused to deal honestly with the evidence their sin became double in that: “ye entered not in yourselves,” AND “them that were entering in ye hindered.”

Many are like these discouraging lawyers who do not to take responsibility negative influence on others. Many are quick to take credit for any good influence they’ve had, but are not so eager to accept blame when they’ve had a negative impact. If our brethren have made bad choices, we argue that those choices were their own responsibility – nothing we did MADE them act as they did. And that’s true, obviously. But if others end up being lost for their sinful choices, we also may lose our souls by aiding them in their wrong choices through our discouragement.

Friends, No man is so insignificant as to be sure his example can be of no discouragement. Each day we encourage or discourage our brethren with which we come in contact. It’s hard enough already for many around us to keep moving faithfully ahead in their Christian walk. If, by our example, we make it even harder for them, we should expect God’s extreme displeasure. And not only that, we should expect to find our own lives less happy. Remember, No deed that sets an evil example can bring joy to the doer.

We need to encourage as God commanded Moses to encourage Joshua. “But Joshua the son of Nun, which standeth before thee, he shall go in thither: encourage him: for he shall cause Israel to inherit it … But charge Joshua, and encourage him, and strengthen him: for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the land which thou shalt see” (Deuteronomy 1:38; 3:28).

Let us all be encouragers and not discouragers.