Which Are You?
1 Thessalonians 5:11 Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.
This week I was worshipping with children in our preschool. At the end of worship their teacher asked them, “Have you been a bucket filler or a bucket dipper with Miss Bobbie? Did you listen when she told the Bible story and did you say thank you for worshipping with us?”
Bucket fillers energize you. These are the people that will fill you with joy and peace. They genuinely care about you, ask how you are doing, chip in to give you a hand when you are in need, and will listen without trying to formulate an answer. A smile comes to your face when you see these people and you enjoy talking with them. They are bucket fillers. Bucket dippers do the opposite. They drain you; they can find a negative in almost any situation and are quick to tell others about it.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 tells us to “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up as you are already doing.” I love this phrase, “as you are already doing.” The church in Thessalonica encouraged one another, at least during this season of ministry, and made it a point to build one another up.
The truth is that we all need to be encouraged more. Life is difficult and confusing. We need people who are following Jesus to help us follow Jesus. We all need people who remind us that we are each a one of a kind, God-made masterpiece. We all need to be reminded that Jesus loves us.
God, help each of us be a bucket filler every day. With a phone call or email we can encourage the people in our lives to remember that they are special and important to us and You. Amen.