I’ve heard of pathological antagonists before—people who are addicted to conflict, confrontation, and contention. They thrive on it. They love it. They create it, they fuel it, they fester it… and they HATE to resolve it. Resolution to a pathological antagonist is like a kid getting kicked out of his sandbox. It’s where the love to sit and stay. They don’t want to heal. They LOVE their murmurings and disputings.
Mental note: get away from these people, you don’t owe them anything…
But what about pathological encouragers! As in compulsive, obsessive NICE people? Epaphras was one. Onesimus was one. Joseph was one. Daniel was one. Joshua was one. What about people who are are addicted, committed, absolutely resolved to encourage others. We need more of these people in the world—and especially in local churches.
My experience is—everybody is having a hard time. Everybody is hearing a lot of negative. Everybody is being bruised by other people in some way, somewhere. Life is filled with harshness, discouragement, and spiritual resistance. Mean, angry, and generally hurtful people are every where. And everybody could use a word of grace!
At the end of my life, I’d love to go down as “an encourager.” How about you?
“The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me…” 2 Timothy 1:16
