[Article written by Matt Nevins. Originally published in his email newsletter “The Lamp.”]
Recently I attended a National Society of Collegiate Scholars meeting, and we were designing club T-shirts. We broke into groups to come up with a good design that everyone would like. One of the guys in my group came up with the idea to use a Mastercard theme T-shirt. The shirt would list different items that have a cost associated with that item and conclude with something that was priceless. This item is something that is “of inestimable value,” as Webster defines priceless. The theme is to show that we can purchase and attain different items with a medium of exchange, but there are items that we cannot put a price tag on. This idea got me thinking about different things that are priceless.
Christians have rendered certain priceless items that those outside of Christ do not deem as priceless. We could list several items like God’s love, grace, mercy, patience, the gospel of Christ, salvation, a sense of security, the ability to be pleasing, and the list could undoubtedly continue. These items are of immeasurable value to the Christian because of our faith in God, and time is well-spent when we discuss these items. However, I would like to study for a few moments some items that may not always be immediately thought as priceless.
Encouragement
Each Christian is in need of uplifting and support in endeavoring a pure life. Certain events can become depressing like feeling alone (1 Kings 19:9-14), the loss of a dear loved one (Acts 9:39), others refusing to do what is right (2 Tim. 4:10), and others could be named. When we experience such times, we are in need of reinforcement to keep us going. Encouragement is many times overlooked, but to the one that is in need, it is priceless. There have been times when I have grown discouraged when things were not going as well as I had hoped. Yet small bits of encouragement meant a great deal and became precious to get going again. The times when I needed encouragement, I am thankful there were Christians who cared and supported me. The challenge then for me is to use their example and do likewise.
Elijah was a man just like we are today, a person who needed encouragement. He lived at a time when people at large lived served idols and were unrighteous (1 Kings 16:29-33). Elijah felt alone after he slew the prophets of Baal in 1 Kings 18:40. Due to the mass slaying, Jezebel promised to do the same to Elijah in a day’s time (1 Kings 19:2). Elijah fled for his life and we find in 1Kings 19 that he felt alone while at Mt. Horeb. Even though Elijah felt alone, God showed Elijah otherwise. Elijah was encouraged when the Lord instructed Elijah that there were still 7,000 souls that had not bowed down to Baal, and that there were two men of zeal that Elijah would anoint who would serve the Lord-Jehu and Elisha (1 Kings 19:17-18). Elijah needed to refresh his point of view, and encouragement fulfilled that need.
Death many times is viewed as an end, a stopping point in existence. In contrast, death is not a ceasing to exist, but a checkpoint in the large scheme of life. This is evident with the language used in the Bible. Death is a separation from to items-soul from the body, man from God, one person from another, etc. When physical death of the body from the soul occurs, the soul returns to its Maker (Eccl 12:7). Furthermore we find in the New Testament that the faithful will resurrect and conform to the glory of Christ (1 Cor. 15:50-53, Phil. 3:21). This hope to be with God in eternity drives Christians today. Christians do not fear death because of the comfort that God has ensured, that there is a resurrection and all the faithful will partake in the inheritance. “Therefore comfort one another with these words” (1 Thess. 4:18).
Christians today live in places where they may be the only servant of the Lord at the workplace, at school, in the neighborhood, maybe the only one for miles. Seeing unrighteousness practiced openly can depress the Christian desiring to pursue righteousness. Paul understood this and could have possibly been the source of motivation to encourage Timothy to be an example and pursue righteousness at all times (1 Tim. 4:10, 2 Tim. 2:22). Although it is hard to continue, we are never alone because God is present and will be faithful to provide a means to remain faithful (1 Cor. 10:13). It requires to be reinforced at times and have the courage to keep going forward.
Therefore just as there is a need for encouragement, a source of encouragement is equally needed. God is a great source of encouragement as we noted in 1 Kings 19. His word instructs, comforts, protects, and strengthens us (Psalm 23). In whatever state we are in, we can be comforted knowing that God will provide. Paul was encouraged by this thought, which helped him to press forward (Phil. 4:13, 3:13-14). Encouragement is available through God’s word and is something we can practice as well.
A Levite named Joseph from Cyprus gives an example of an encourager for us to look at today. The apostles called him Barnabas, which means ‘Son of Encouragement’ (Acts 4:36). This title fits Joseph because he helped needy saints by selling some of his property (Acts 4:37), supported Paul when the disciples were hesitant about associating with the former persecutor (Acts 9:26-28), and his willingness to encourage brethren as he went to Antioch (Acts 11:22-24). As a result of Barnabas’ endeavors to encourage brethren, the Church grew. The end result and the very agent for the result are priceless. When there is a need in the body, the other members need to strive to help the member in need. If there are not any encouragers, then encouragement will cease. When encouragement ceases, growth will stop and Christians will drift back into the pleasures of sin. Encouragement helps us keep striving and helping others, which is priceless.
Mentoring
Another priceless item that goes hand in hand with encouragement is mentoring. A mentor gives wise advice and acts as a teacher in the life of another. Older individuals have seen and experienced more things than the younger generation. This knowledge ought to be given to strengthen those who are younger to prevent the same mistakes from being made. Paul was a mentor to both Timothy and Titus (1 Tim. 1:2, Tit. 1:4). Paul instructed each how he ought to conduct himself (1 Tim. 2:15, Tit. 2:1). Paul not only instructed to live righteously (1 Tim. 4:12, Tit. 2:12), but also to speak boldly the gospel (2 Tim. 4:1-5, Tit. 2:1, 15; 3:8). By aiding these young men through personal admonition and encouragement, others would learn the truth and likewise spread the truth.
Not only do we find example of older men mentoring younger men, but we also find instruction for the older women to give guidance to the younger women. Paul instructed Titus to have the older women encourage the younger women to love their husbands, love their children, be sensible, pure, workers at home, and be submissive to their husbands (Tit. 2:3-5). This instruction would honor the word of God and strengthen the relationships within the home and others. We need more women as are described in Proverbs 31, and we find New Testament examples like Tabitha, Lydia, Lois, Eunice, and the list could go on. These are upstanding examples of godly women. Older women today need to teach these attributes to the younger ladies.
The result is that there will be a stronger relationship among God’s people. The stronger associations will lead to the edifying of the body because the level of concern will rise. This will motivate each individual to look out and esteem each other more highly than himself (Phil. 2:3). I have had the privilege of being the recipient of this kind of mentoring from several older men. It has proved to be beneficial in strengthening my life as a Christian and it will in turn help others. So in short, older people find some younger individuals that you can spend time with in order to help them. Younger people, look for the occasions because the memories and knowledge you can have will be priceless.
Patience
In connection with the previous two items, patience is priceless as we live. Things do not always line up the way we would like. This does not call for us to throw in the towel and think God has forsaken us. In the Old Testament we can examine Joseph and see how life was not always pleasant. From Genesis 37 through 41, Joseph was betrayed by his brothers and sold into slavery, thrown into prison because of a lie, and forgotten when Joseph interpreted the dream of a cupbearer who was released. Joseph was far from home in a place that had a different language, customs, and religion. Many would most likely give up and lose patience because life is not a bed full of roses. What is notable is Joseph never spoke ill of the Lord and remained faithful. Joseph was patient even in his old age. At the end of his life, Joseph made arrangements for his bones to be taken to Canaan when God would lead the Israelites to the inheritance (Heb. 11:22). Things do not happen on man’s time, but on God’s. Our duty is to accept this and be patient.
Things have not changed much since the days of Joseph when evaluating humanity. The observation that was made long ago was “there is nothing new under the sun” (Eccl. 1:9). So it should not be something strange to see Christians experiencing hard times in life. Problems will arise because we are striving for purity. The world thinks it is odd if someone is not living like everyone else. Therefore, the world will mistreat the person that is different by means of discrimination, ostracizing, and even slander (1 Pet. 4:4). Like Joseph practiced patience and did not resort to practicing evil to get even with his persecutors, we must also learn to be of the same mind (1 Pet. 2:20). Patience is priceless because of the favor it achieves with the Lord.
We also need to be patient when it comes to spiritual growth. Maturity is not automatic as some would like. Growing into the mature person that God desires requires work, prayer, and patience (Heb. 6:1-2, 9-12). The apostles labored intensively for others to come to Christ and continue to grow (Heb. 6:10). This is evident in the life of Paul, to the point where Paul would prefer to depart and be with Christ but also knew living would profit others in their growth (Phil. 1:21-26). As long as there is still evidence of growth, we need to be ready to help out anyway we can, whether by means of encouragement or mentorship. Others will grow because of the time and effort we exert with patience, this is simply priceless.
Ultimately when our lives are finished on Earth, the most priceless item we could ever attain is an abode in heaven with God. To get to our place of residence (Phil. 3:20), we must labor for a while (1 Cor. 15:58). Encouragement, mentoring, and patience are just a few things that will help each of us to fulfill that goal. Participating in encouragement and mentoring is reasonable, and patience is involved with both. Jesus is the prime example we are following, and reading John 14 will show how Jesus exemplified all of these items. These words and the time spent with the Savior were indeed priceless to the apostles, as it can be to us today.
