And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.
1 Thessalonians 5:14
When I recently re-read this verse, I remembered a sermon Dr. Bill Clark from the Lay Counselor Institute had preached over a decade ago. Admonish. Encourage. Help. He gave an example where he had to employ all three with a client, but usually only one was needed.
I was struck how my “go to” response of helping was not always the best choice. Occasionally, my response was random.
I had admonished the fainthearted when I should have encouraged. I had helped the idle when I should have admonished. I had encouraged the weak when I should have helped.
The only “go to” response in this scripture is “Be patient with them all,” rarely my first choice.
Do you naturally admonish, encourage, or help?
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