Buy'em Both!

Series: Encouragement



A while back I overheard a couple of men talking about a recent real-estate purchase. The one who made the purchase said he had been “eyeing” a piece of property for sometime, but kept putting off the purchase until he could get the land next to it. He knew it was a risky wait, but felt it was best to get the two pieces of land together. Within a couple of months the adjacent property became available and he quickly made an offer and secured both properties. The other man asked him why he wanted both properties. His friend replied, “I could have made the first property work. But owning both properties provides more options for what I intend to do with the property.

Solomon said “two are better than one”. I don’t think he had real-estate deals in mind when he wrote those words. He was talking about companionship. I think a lot of bible verses live in the spirit of Solomon’s words. They mean more to us when we take them in “twos”.

Hebrews 10:25 is one of those verses. The writer says, “not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more, as you see the day drawing near.” Historically, the first part of the verse has received more than its share of attention. It is referred to as the ole “git yourself to church” verse. A quick reading of the book of Hebrews reveals that the readers were experiencing great trials. Pressures of one kind or another were bearing down on them and squeezing faith out of their hearts. Some were on their way “out of the assembly”. He urges them to stay focused on what really matters and not give up their faith like Esau who gave up his birthright because hunger pains made a moment of soup sound like a good trade (12:16-17). But some had already been through the soup line. And, in all likelihood, they wouldn’t hear the reading of this magnificent letter when it came to the little house churches that first received it.

The writer turns to those who would hear it and says, “Consider how to stir up one another to love and good deeds” (Hebrews 10:24). “Not forsaking” is prefaced by a call to be responsible toward one another. “Consider one another “ and “not forsaking” are two pieces of biblical real-estate that are meant to go together.

Robert Collier said, “Most of us, swimming against the tide of trouble the world knows nothing about, need only a bit of praise or encouragement – and we will make the goal.” These days, “How are you?” has about as much weight as a mini marshmallow! We have made “bump and run” conversation an art form. Our fast paced culture conditions us to rush through our daily routines checking off our task lists. Sunday rolls around and we assure ourselves that everybody knows Hebrews 10:25. But sometimes believers forget that the call to confession and connectedness comes on the heels of a call to be a responsible community. “Consider one another” is essential to “not forsaking”.

As I write this my mind is bouncing around between towns and states, revisiting homes, schools, out-of-the-way congregations, basketball games and sorting through mail received once upon a time. It is impossible to separate my faith and who I am today from the many people who “considered me” and “stirred me” in some way. If I provided the list of people few if any of you would know anyone on the list. The point is, I know them. They mattered in my life. And, for me, that counts big time! They lived their lives in the quiet corners of the world rarely making press about anything. But, they were people who dropped words into my ears, hugged me, gave me stuff, wrote notes to me during my teen years and who put wind beneath my wings on more than one occasion. They cared about me. They loved me. They helped me get up when my best effort fell short of a particular goal and instilled “one more time” in me. And, they knew about “git’n to church”. But they knew a lot more about what people need to make “git’n to church” have some staying power. And, I’ll never forget them.

People will make it to heaven because other people “considered them” and “stirred them up”. Can it be that plain and simple? I think so. We market the gospel, put pithy sayings on marquees, assure those who listen from a distance with words like “family, care, call us, home, in it together” and so on. People may be drawn by such language. A lot – perhaps most – will not. If it’s true that nine tenths of education is encouragement, I suspect that personalizing Hebrews 10:24 will make a bigger impression. (Maybe that could be one of the refrigerator verses for 2011?)

Each day presents us with an opportunity to “consider” someone. Collier is right. Lots of people swim against the tide of trouble that nobody knows about. And they pass churches everyday. They sit beside us in restaurants, at ballgames, pass us in shopping aisles and brush past us in a hundred other places. They know something is missing. The Lord is there…somewhere. And, “git’n to church” probably crosses their mind once in a while. That’s where we come into the picture. We shouldn’t claim 10:25 and call it a day. We need 10:24, too! Loss, pain and hardship can crowd out the sacrifice and majesty of Jesus. 10:24 gives us eyes for the margins. Who do we need to consider? Who needs to be “stirred up” …again? Let’s speak, write, hug, listen, smile, pay attention, and whatever else we can do to contribute to some “stirring” in somebody. It’s the least we can do as those who “see the day drawing near.”

Gracious Father, you are our greatest encourager! Bathe our hearts in the power of your love and impress on our hearts the worth of every person so that we can be extensions of yourself in someone’s life unto their blessing. Thank you for “considering us”. Empower us to do the same for others everyday. Through Jesus who lives to intercede for us….Amen

Randy Daugherty
Stephenville, Texas