Introduction:
The Bible describes him as “a good man, and full of the Holy
Spirit and of faith” (Acts
11:24).He was a great servant and a great encourager to
others. In fact, his name meant “son of encouragement” (Acts
4:36). If Barnabas were allowed to come back and speak
with us for about 30 minutes, what would he say? Note six lessons
Barnabas teaches us.
Discussion:
I.
“Your brethren are more important than your
possessions.”
A.
In Acts
4:36-37, Barnabas sold a tract of land and laid the
entirety of his proceeds at the apostle’s feet to help needy
brethren. What causes a person to let go of one of his best
financial investments? Love and a true perspective of what is
valuable. Barnabas valued his brethren more than he valued his
possessions.
B.
Remember Jesus’ words in Luke
12:15, “For not even when one has an abundance does his
life consist of his possessions.” We do not know how wealthy
Barnabas was, but he certainly grasped the concept Paul taught in I
Timothy 6:17-19. He did not put his trust in his wealth,
but in God. Therefore, he was able to use the blessings from God
to serve others and store up treasures in heaven. Barnabas would
tell us that our brethren are more important than our stuff.
II.
“Don’t get upset when you don’t get picked.”
A.
By the time we read to Acts
6:1-7, we have already been introduced to Barnabas and his
servant mentality. Here was a man who was a great Christian. In
fact, Acts
11:24 claimed he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit
and of faith. Yet, when the Jerusalem congregation picked seven
good men, full of the Spirit and wisdom to lead the work of
providing for the widows, his name is not on the list. Barnabas,
however, would go on to do great service, being sent from
Jerusalem to Antioch when the gospel reached that city and a
church was established.
B.
How many stories have we heard of men who leave
congregations because they were overlooked in the search for
elders or deacons? How many get upset when they were not selected
to be a teacher? Not Barnabas. Barnabas simply continued doing
what he could do. When the time came that his specific skills were
needed for a specific task, he was ready to get to work and head
to Antioch (Acts
11:22). Barnabas would tell us not to get upset when we do
not get picked even when we are qualified. Do what you can and
when you are picked, do your duty.
III.
“Go where you are needed.”
A.
In Acts
11:19-21, the gospel arrived in Syrian Antioch and many
believed. When the apostles in Jerusalem heard about it, they
wanted someone to go and strengthen the church there. Barnabas,
the son of encouragement, was sent. This was not a small trip. He
was not sent for a week long gospel meeting. This was a lifelong
change. Then in Acts
13:2-3, the Holy Spirit selected Barnabas to travel with
Paul all over the known world establishing churches.
B.
Think about the sacrifice that called for. Barnabas was not
attached to this world. He was looking forward to eternity.
Therefore, he was able to pack up and go where he was needed,
where he could be used the most. By the way, for Barnabas, being
where he could be used the most did not necessarily mean going
where he could lead public prayers or lead singing most
frequently. He went where there was hard work needed and he did
the hard work—publicly and privately. Barnabas would tell us to
go where we are needed.
IV.
“Empower others.”
A.
In Acts
11:22-23, the apostles sent Barnabas to strengthen and aid
the new Christians in Antioch. One of the greatest contributions
Barnabas made in the congregation there was bringing Saul from
Tarsus (Acts
11:25-26). Barnabas was not interested in what would make
him look the best. Therefore, he did not try to accomplish
everything all on his own. Instead, he was interested in what was
best for the brethren and for Christ’s church. He was able to
see that the congregation needed someone in addition to himself
and he went and got him.
B.
Don’t forget the past between Barnabas and Saul. Barnabas
had been the one who brought Saul to the apostles in Acts
9:26-28 and vouched for him. Barnabas was interested in
giving others opportunity to grow. He did not do that by taking a
backseat but by developing them. The greatest story of his success
is Saul. Barnabas’s initial confidence in Saul paid off as he
went on to surpass Barnabas in teaching and strengthening
churches. Barnabas would tell us to invest our time in others,
give them a chance and empower them.
V.
“Be patient with others.”
A.
Along with the above point, Barnabas would teach us to be
patient with each other. In Acts
13:5, John Mark traveled with Paul and Barnabas on their
first missionary journey. However, in Acts
13:13, John left them. We do not know exactly why.
However, it must not have been on good terms with Paul. When Paul
asked Barnabas to travel with him again, Barnabas wanted to give
John Mark another opportunity, but Paul refused. Their
disagreement was so sharp went on separate journeys with other men
(Acts
15:36-41).
B.
Barnabas’s patience with John Mark paid off. Even Paul
eventually came to see John Mark as valuable (II
Timothy 4:11). Additionally, John Mark ended up writing
the gospel of Mark. Perhaps Paul did not always remember or
perfectly follow his own teaching on patience (II
Timothy 4:1-2), but Barnabas understood and practiced
patience very well. Perhaps Paul was simply passing on what he had
learned from Barnabas when he wrote to Timothy and us about
patience. Barnabas would encourage us to be patient with our
brethren.
VI.
“Do what is right, even when apostles do what is
wrong.”
A.
I am sure that Barnabas would talk to us about one of his
greatest mistakes, recorded in Galatians
2:12-13. Despite Barnabas’s great work as a servant of
brethren, there was a time when he went astray and acted with
prejudice. While in Antioch, despite having been one of the first
teachers who came to encourage the Gentile Christians, when Peter
began to hold himself aloof from Gentiles, Barnabas followed his
hypocrisy. I imagine Barnabas regretted those days for the rest of
his life.
B.
How many people would have done the same thing because they
saw an apostle doing it? We learn a great deal about influence
from this. However, the lesson we learn from Barnabas is to do
what is right no matter what anyone else is doing. Peter also
needed that lesson. His hypocrisy came because he was concerned
what the men James sent would say. Barnabas would tell us, do what
is right no matter what anyone else does, even if it is an
apostle.
Conclusion:
I can hardly imagine getting to spend 30 minutes with
Barnabas. I can hardly wait to get to spend eternity with him and
with all the other great saints of the Bible. To do so, we must
learn the lessons they teach us in scripture. Follow Barnabas’s
example as a servant and minister and learn to do what is right no
matter what anyone else does.
Glory
to God in the church by Christ Jesus
Franklin
Church of Christ
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