Paul and Barnabas were very different sorts of people. Paul was a man of formidable intellect and arguably the greatest evangelist of all time, whereas Barnabas was more of a pastor and discipler of people. Barnabas was one of those people who recognised potential in others and had the knack of knowing how to bring it out (his name, as Luke sees fit to tell us in 4:36, means ‘son of encouragement’). This takes patience and belief. Paul himself had benefited from Barnabas’ insight because, when he first came to faith and everyone else was running scared from him, Barnabas got alongside him and discipled him. Now Barnabas sees potential in a young man called Mark. Paul, however, doesn’t want to be nursing this young man all the way and so he enters into sharp dispute with Barnabas, so much so that they decide to go their separate ways. We should be thankful that Barnabas stuck with Mark though, because this young man became an important leader, not to mention the writer of the Gospel that bears his name. The split was probably providential too, because instead of one mission, there were two. Paul was a driven man, and thank God for his drive, because the Christian movement spread rapidly under his ministry. Indeed, Paul looms large in the pages of history for what he did. But thank God for Barnabas, for without him there would be no Paul. You may not be a Paul, but you can be a Barnabas to someone, and who knows but that the person you encourage may become something of a Paul.
Reflect on who you can encourage and even begin to get alongside.
Read Acts 15:36-41
