Barnabas, sacrificing and serving
And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus, having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet (Acts 4:36-37).
In the last chapter of John’s Gospel the Lord speaks to Peter about shepherding His sheep (John 21:15-19). Towards the end of his life Peter writes about the characteristics needed to be a shepherd of the flock of God (1 Peter 5:1-4). And I think, to help us further in understanding this vital ministry, the Spirit of God gave us the example of a man who had the heart of a true shepherd; his name was Barnabas.
We are introduced to him at a critical moment in the history of the early Church – just before the sin of covetousness marred the remarkable testimony of the people of God in Acts 5. We can look further back and see the damage this sin did in the days of Joshua (Joshua 7), and Paul writes in Colossians 3:5, “covetousness, which is idolatry”. In contrast, Barnabas sold his land and brought the money to the apostles for use in the service of God. It wasn’t merely a gift; it was an expression of his desire to give his life entirely to the service of God. God loves a cheerful giver, and the apostles gave him the name “Son of Encouragement”.
When Saul of Tarsus, following his conversion, attempted to join the disciples at Jerusalem, he was still seen as an enemy (Acts 9:26-27). It was Barnabas who befriended him, brought him to the apostles and spoke on his behalf. This gives us an insight into the shepherd-heart of Barnabas. He cared for God’s people, he saw value in them when others did not, and he defended and encouraged them in their faith and service.
A great persecution of the Christians at Jerusalem followed the death of Stephen. It led, by God’s grace, to the Gospel spreading to Samaria in Acts 8 and to Antioch in Acts 11. Astonishingly, the Lord used the death of Stephen to spread the Gospel through the lives both of ordinary disciples and of gifted servants of God. God lit a fire in their hearts, and despite their suffering, they communicated the love of God everywhere they went. When the apostles heard of the blessing at Antioch, they sent Barnabas to encourage them. The apostles held Barnabas in high regard and knew he would benefit those he was sent to serve.
I think Barnabas’ arrival in Antioch gives us an excellent lesson in shepherding the people of God. Barnabas didn’t rush to organise or direct or even teach. As a true shepherd, he looked over the flock of God, he saw the grace of God, and he was glad. In serving God’s people, we should never be superficial or hasty. We should time take to see the ways God’s grace has moved in the hearts of His people, and we should rejoice in it. Whatever the problems Paul had to deal with amongst the churches he sought to serve, he always began with what the grace of God had done in their lives. I wonder if he learnt that from Barnabas, who built on what God had already done. In the King James Version, we read that he “exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord” (Acts 11:23). I love the word “cleave”; here it means “to adhere firmly and closely or loyally and unwaveringly to something”. Barnabas crystallises the blessing and power of the Christian life with these simple words: stay close to the Lord.
