Barnabas: Committed

The Bible is filled with men and women who lived in such a way that it is worthy of imitation. These people are like us, touched with frailty, failing as we do. They are also how we can be - strong and committed.

One man that is on my mind is Barnabas. There is so much that we can say about Barnabas, even if we only see him so little in the New Testament. One thing that stands out to me is Barnabas's commitment. Paul mentions Barnabas as a like figure when making a defense of his commitment in 1 Corinthians 9:6, "Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living?"

I thought about this verse and realized something about Barnabas. It may have been my first time recognizing this, although I'm not sure how I could have missed it. Barnabas was like Paul in that he did not receive support from the brethren for his ministry. I knew why Paul did not; it was not to shield himself from poverty (Phil 4:12). Instead, Paul, a tent-maker by trade, worked so that he could further convey his commitment and sincerity to the gospel (2 Cor 2:17; 1 Thess 2:5-6, 9). 

Maybe you are thinking, like I did, "Well, Barnabas didn't need to take from the saints because he was rich." That would be quite the leap. Barnabas might be thought of as a man with deep pockets; perhaps that is the case. I'll tell you what the mind of God conveys about Barnabas, time after time - Barnabas was a man with a deep heart.

Barnabas is best known for his commitment to the needs of the saints, as evidenced by his giving of the proceeds from the sale of a field. It certainly was a noble act, but not the only act of a selfless man who offered more than silver and gold, but himself. Barnabas has earned a deeper level of appreciation in my mind and, with that, has challenged me to a higher level of service. He sacrificed his rights for the furtherance of the gospel. Will I do likewise? Will I place myself lower on the rungs so that Christ can rule in the hearts of men?