The Proverbs 31 series has only two more weeks after today so let's finish strong and learn our final lessons that can make us Proverbs 31 people, even though our focus has been men throughout this study. This week, let's look at the life of a man named Joseph. You probably don’t know him as Joseph, because his name was changed by the apostles. We know him as Barnabas and the story of how he got that nickname is a great study of the concept of purpose.
WHO WAS THIS MAN?
We read in Acts 4:36-37 “Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement), sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.” Put yourself in the apostles’ place in those early days. They were informed that someone wanted to see them and perhaps their heart sank since they were hoping to go home. When they heard it was Joseph, they perked up and said, “Oh, you mean Barnabas, the Son of Encouragement. Every time we see him he encourages us. Show him in.”
At that point, Joseph came in holding two bags of money and placed them at the apostles’ feet. He said, “I had this piece of land, but as a Levite I am technically not supposed to own anything for the Lord is our portion as His servants. I thought I would sell it and give the money to you to do with as you wish. I appreciate the job you’re doing and I love you all.” When he left, the apostles were glad they had let him in. He refreshed and encouraged them and was true to the new name he had been given. From that point on, every time we read of Barnabas, he is living up to his name, which embodied his purpose to encourage.
When the early church would not have anything to do with Saul, Barnabas came forward and encouraged them to accept him (Acts 9:27). When the work in Antioch among the Gentiles was exploding, the apostles sent Barnabas there:
When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord (Acts 11:23-24, emphasis added).
Barnabas wasn’t interested in keeping that work in Antioch all to himself, so he “went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch” (Acts 11:25-26). Barnabas took that opportunity to encourage Saul and his ministry after he encouraged the new church at Antioch. Barnabas had more than a gift of encouragement, for he was a teacher, apostle, prophet, evangelist, and giver. Yet he always found a way to encourage others, no matter what he was doing.
TRUE TO HIS PURPOSE
Eventually, Joseph's commitment to his purpose cost him and his ministry something:
Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the believers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.” Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus . . . (Acts 15:36-39).
John Mark was Barnabas' cousin and the Son of Encouragement could not bring himself to discourage his cousin by not giving him a second chance. Therefore, Barnabas stood up to Paul, left the team, and took his cousin back to their home area of Cyprus.
Throughout this study, I have considered someone a Proverbs 31 man if they could meet one or more of these criteria:
- Using leadership power to benefit and not harm those who are weaker.
- Being concerned for social justice.
- Honoring women.
- Serving in leadership capacities as "elders at the gate," where wisdom and justice are dispensed.
I conclude that Barnabas qualifies based on numbers one and four. He was wise and used his power not to harm others but to help and serve them again and again. Perhaps he knew his cousin had left the team over Paul's domineering ways, or because the team had started out Barnabas and Saul but then became Paul and all the others. Whatever John Mark's reason for leaving, Barnabas wanted to encourage him and allow him back on the team because that is who he was at the core of his being: the Son of Encouragement.
Proverbs 31 men and women know their purpose and from that knowledge make a place for themselves that is personally fulfilling while also beneficial to others. We need more people like Barnabas who will devote their lives to uplift and inspire others, not just to feel better when they are down, but to challenge and encourage them to find and fulfill purpose. If that is what you want to do, then I encourage you (Barnabas would be happy I wrote that) to be true to who you are, even if it seems like it is so basic that anyone could do it. The truth is, they cannot, but you can and when you do, the world will be a better place. Have a blessed week.
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