Click here to return to Blog Post Intro
Barnabas: A Lifter of People
Barnabas let no opportunity escape to add value to others. And his greatest single contribution in terms of empowerment can be seen in how he lifted Paul.
1. He believed in Paul before anyone else did.
It’s easy to take a stand on a controversial issue after other leaders have already done so. It’s something else to be the first to step up and speak out before anyone else does. That’s what Barnabas did. He didn’t wait for the apostles to endorse Paul before believing in him. In fact, he believed in Paul while Peter and others feared him.
To be an encouraging leader, you have to take chances on people. You have to look for the potential in them and encourage them to believe in themselves. That can be risky, because they may not come through. But if they do, the payoff can be huge. You may inspire a new leader to achieve things she never thought possible. And leaders never forget the first person who believed in them.
2. He endorsed Paul’s leadership to other leaders.
The Bible says Barnabas took Paul “and brought him to the apostles. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus” (Acts 9:27). How’s that for an endorsement?
What if Paul arrived in Jerusalem without Barnabas? Remember, Paul was the same man who stood by and approved the stoning of Stephen—the first Christian martyr!
Instead, Barnabas showed up and told Paul’s story. Paul didn’t have to say a word. The believers knew Barnabas and trusted him. They knew his reputation and his integrity, and that’s all it took. Scripture records, “So he was with them at Jerusalem, coming in and going out” (Acts 9:28). The church accepted Paul.
One of the best gifts you can give your team members is to sing their praises to others. Be intentional about praising them to their friends and families. Bring them before other leaders. Help them make a connection on the strength of your credibility.
3. He empowered Paul to reach his potential.
The connection between Barnabas and Paul didn’t end in Jerusalem. After Barnabas’ endorsement enabled Paul to move freely throughout Jerusalem, teaching people and debating the truth of Scripture, it wasn’t long before Paul became an enemy of nonbelievers.
Later, when Barnabas was assigned to help the church in Antioch, he found Paul and made him his companion. That action empowered Paul to take his first “assignment” as a leader, and it led to Paul’s partnership with Barnabas as a missionary—the role for which God had destined him.
To be an empowering leader, you must do more than believe in emerging leaders. You must take steps to help them become the leaders they have the potential to be. You must invest in them if you want to empower them to be their best.
Empowering people takes a personal investment. It requires energy and time. But it’s worth it. If you do it right, you will have the privilege of seeing someone move to a higher level. As an added bonus, when you empower others, you create power in your organization!