Stories differ regarding how Henry Ford met his boyhood hero Thomas Edison. Some say Ford worked as an engineer at Edison’s plant. At a company party given by Edison, he sought out young Ford, having gotten wind that Ford had built a car. This conversation, this common thread between two inventors, began a lifelong friendship.
Based on hard work, intellect, and Edison’s encouragement, Ford successfully built and sold automobiles. Years later, the tables turned. Edison’s plant burned down but his insurance didn’t cover the cost, and it was Ford that supplied the cash to rebuild.
The Vagabonds, Edison and Ford and two other friends, vacationed and enjoyed life together, sharing memories they held dear and dreams filled with ideas for the future.
The time came when Edison could no longer walk. Ford purchased a home near Edison’s and bought a wheelchair so he and Edison could race in their two-wheeled vehicles.
Who could’ve imagined that their earliest conversation, where both men revealed their desire to build an automobile, would inspire not a jealous rivalry but each other’s success!
In a letter to the Believers in Thessalonica, God’s word through Paul says, “encourage one another and build up one another, just as you are doing.” (1Thess.5:11)
Again, we find another dose of encouragement Romans 14:19: “So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another.”
Hebrews 3:13 doubles down on the need to cheer each other on: “But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.”
Whether or not Paul wrote Hebrews, we can see that one of his spiritual gifts had to do with inspiring others in the faith! Given his end-of-life circumstance, living in a Roman hole, what prompted him to be such an encouragement to others?
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, neither height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom. 8:38-39)
When we lean on the Lord Jesus Christ, we find encouragement and hope. Our growing faith and friendship with Him plugs us into a power source that doesn’t come from how big/the location of our home, the brand of clothes we wear, or how many cars we own. What we have in Christ isn’t based on earthly success.
Our life is built on Christ alone. And what a joy to encourage Believers with our lively hope! Rather than building friendships on material things (i.e., Edison and Ford), let’s build a legacy of love for Him and for each other. And encourage the world to know and love Him by the hope they see in us.