Encourage the timid, help the weak.
—1 Thessalonians 5:14
In Romans 12, Paul wrote, “We have different gifts.”
Then he named some of them: serving, teaching, leading, giving, and encouraging. Most of those gifts are limited. One is unlimited.
Teaching is a wonderful gift, but not everyone can do it—and even those who can don’t have the opportunity to do it every day. Giving is a beautiful gift, but the chance to give in a way that you’re capable of responding to doesn’t come every day.
But the gift of encouragement has no limitation. It’s a gift that you have, along with opportunities to exercise it every day—an unlimited gift. And it’s every bit as much a ministry as teaching or giving.
Someone in your circle of acquaintances is running on fumes. Their tank is almost empty. Fill it with encouragement.
You can never give a word of encouragement too soon,
for you never know when it will be too late.