I have long argued that Barnabas is the single most underrated character in the New Testament. He goes from being identified as an individual who was moved to participate in the early church’s compassionate ministries (not unlike our own Feeding the 5000!) to later being treated somewhat like a theologian in residence (see Acts 11:19–22). Later, he becomes the mentor to the man who would one day be known as the Apostle Paul (Acts 11:23–27). I have been so convinced of the importance of this one person that I wrote the thesis for my second Master’s degree on him. (If you struggle with insomnia, you can borrow it!)
But did you catch the meaning on his name? “Son of encouragement.” The only thing, well, maybe the dominant thing, he had in his toolbox was that he encouraged people. No seminary degree, no books that he authored, no line of clothing or TV show (or internet following). Just encouragement.
When Peachtree’s Ironmen had a ministry partnership building homes in Ecuador, the director of the ministry there told us every year that the greatest gift we brought was our smiles; those, he said, gave people hope. You can encourage someone with a kind word, a gentle correction, a laugh, even just your smile.