Exhortation

Exhortation

What is that? It is an invitation, a reminder, a recommendation, an encouragement and provocation, an appeal, a prayer—to do good. It is a way of expressing that one has the others’ best in mind, that one is interested in their well-being. One has a sincere desire that it might go well with them, that they might become exceedingly happy.

Exhortation is something which almost does not exist among God’s people in the various congregations—despite the fact that the Scriptures exhort us to exhort one another daily. 1 Thess. 5:11. Heb. 3:13. Why is there so little exhortation? Because people do not like it. Why does one refrain from exhorting when God’s Word commands us to do it? Because one would rather have honor from man than from God. Why do God’s people not like to receive exhortation? Because they seek honor and are proud!

Their evil thought is that no one has to tell them this (what they are exhorted to); they know that already. They also think that this person (who exhorts them) should look after himself, and that they do not have to receive instructions from anyone—only God is supposed to remind them of what they are supposed to do. Or they think that the exhortation encroaches on their personal liberty, that it is bondage to receive an exhortation. On the contrary: when one exhorts, one directs the exhortation to the individual’s free will.

Thus people perceive an exhortation in the wrong light. In Hebrews 13:22 we see that the apostle considered it necessary (after having diligently labored on their behalf) to plead with them to “receive this word of exhortation well.” He considered it a possibility that it might not be received well!!! Unfortunately, that is how it is in this evil world. That is how firmly God’s people are ensnared by sin. Heb. 12:1. The way one receives exhortation is actually a good yardstick for measuring an individual’s attitude of mind.

The fact that it is difficult for some people to be exhorted is clearly understood from 2 Corinthians 13:11, when Paul exhorts the church to “be willing to be exhorted.”

In James 3:17 it is written that wisdom is easily entreated. If we add this to “with the humble is wisdom” (Prov. 11:2), we have to conclude that a humble soul is willing to be exhorted, and that he receives it well. Only those who are proud and conceited do not like exhortation. The sooner one calls exhortation “nagging,” the prouder and more evil one’s heart is.

Paul writes in a letter to his faithful Timothy, “Give attention to . . . exhortation.” 1 Tim. 4:13. That means exhort as much as possible!!! Likewise in his next letter addressed to him, “Exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.” 2 Tim. 4:2. This also means: exhort as much as possible!!! Why do we need these multitudinous exhortations??? Why do we need innumerable reminders about the same thing? Why ask the same thing of the same person so many times when he himself knows that it is the very best thing for him?

Are we really that forgetful? Yes! Are we so slow? Yes! Do we so quickly get tired of doing good? Yes! Does it go so slowly? Yes! Is it so easy to go astray? Yes! Are we really that evil? Yes! Is it so difficult for God to make something out of us? Yes—it really is!

We are reminded of all this when we are exhorted. This has a humiliating effect. Those who do not like it become resentful. This proves their evil attitude of mind. When we read the epistle of Jude, verse 3, we find that Jude’s main concern was to exhort. Likewise in Hebrews 13:22. There we see that this servant of the Lord calls the entire epistle “a word of exhortation.” That is actually what it is. Reading Acts 20:1-2 and 31, we see that the essence of everything Paul did both night and day all year round wherever he came was to exhort. This ministry was so predominant in his life that he does not say a single thing about any of his other ministries. His letters are also full of exhortations. One letter to Timothy contains over thirty exhortations, another letter over fifty. One chapter in Thessalonians contains twenty five exhortations alone, and one chapter in Romans, forty exhortations—forty exhortations in twenty one verses! That is just like a volcano!

In Romans 12:8 we read that God has given some people a special gift (an extraordinary ability) to exhort. Those who have received this gift must not neglect to use it, but make full use of this ministry which God has (not by chance) entrusted to them. In Acts 4:36 we read that a brother by the name of Joses used this gift so faithfully that the apostles called him “Son of Exhortation.” It was as if the whole man were all exhortation. However, if it was fitting to call this man Joses the Son of Exhortation, then one could be tempted to say that Paul must have been the Father of Exhortation.

The Scriptures, the words of all the holy prophets and apostles, are completely saturated with exhortations, serious reminders of what we have to do if it is to go well with us. On the other hand, the words of the false prophets and deceitful workers are full of false comfort that it will go well regardless, full of promises about a future glory without effort, without battle, without obedience and faithfulness from our side.

Nevertheless, there is one exhortation which one does not forget or neglect to give God’s people in these days, and that is the exhortation to give as much as possible in the collection, and the man who gives the preacher a green or red bank note has all spiritual blessings pronounced over his life for time and eternity! Alas! What misery!!!

Our time is a fallen time, a fallen generation, a time of lying and hypocrisy, humanism, leniency, and alliances—a time of softness. If you can smile and say, “Peace, Peace!” then you are alright. If you exhort to labor, you are met with anger, hate, and contempt; then you are nothing but a slave. Away with such people!

Yes, we will soon go to the eternal habitations! There we are welcome! Thanks and praise for that!