Offering a Living Eulogy

In  the opening of Paul’s letter to the Ephesian church he states:

“Blessed be the God and Father of

Our Lord Jesus Christ, who has

Blessed us with every spiritual blessing

In the heavenly places in Christ…”

The above highlighted word Blessed is the Greek word ‘eulogeo’ containing the literal meaning  “to speak well of”.  We have anglicized  this Greek word producing the English word ‘eulogy’-a (sometimes brief, sometimes not) message typically offered at a funeral or memorial service to honor or ‘speak well’ of the virtues and good deeds of a deceased person. Paul is saying we are to ‘speak well of God, i.e. praise Him for his attributes and deeds. Such an outpouring of praise and thanksgiving occurred often among the Israelites in their ongoing battles with their pagan neighbors (see Psalm 96) as they sought protection from their enemies and provision for their needs.

The writer to the N.T. letter to the Hebrews says:

“Let us therefore, continually offer up a

Sacrifice of praise to God, that is the

Fruit of lips that give thanks to His Name”

(Heb 13:15-16)

Obviously, ‘eulogizing’ God is offering a living eulogy, not one offered for a deceased God! We might say this is a eulogy offered vertically, i.e. to God alone.

Horizontal Living Eulogy

By these words I mean to offer a ‘eulogy’ to a living person, someone you might know and whose virtuous character, and good deeds have benefited others and perhaps promoted or defended the Kingdom of God in some way.  Offering a eulogy at a funeral provides zero benefit to the deceased, but (hopefully) only to the living.  I am suggesting that we can have a profound impact on the living when they hear from us, or read in a note from us, words of commendation, words of affirmation, or words of appreciation for their efforts and contribution to the betterment of others. I am not speaking of empty or manipulative flattery but a genuine and sincere expression of appreciation for the positive qualities of a person’s character and/or good deeds they have done.  Surely each of us is uplifted and empowered via hearing or reading someone’s genuine and discerning words of commendation given to us.  I am suggesting that we should not wait until someone has passed on before we offer thanks for their life or eulogize their memory but that we offer them a ‘living’ eulogy so that they can be deeply inspired and encouraged by our words. There are innumerable opportunities in our daily lives to express commendation to others, to express appreciation for their services to us or acts of kindness to us and others.  I am amazed at the effect of such commendation on the level of joy in the hearer.  I often commend a restaurant worker to his/her manager and tell the manager what a good job the worker did in serving me.  Most recently the waitress wrote on our bill ‘you made my day!’  A little effort on my part but a BIG boost to the hearer!

 Most likely every serious minded follower of Jesus has heard or read in the scriptures Jesus’ parable regarding the master’s faithful servant: “well done good and faithful servant” (Matt 25:21). Fundamentally, I suggest each of us desires for, yes, even longs to hear those same words addressed to us individually when we finally appear before our Lord on our ‘evaluation’ day (see II Cor 5:6-10). In the meantime, I am proposing that we become an alert and ready mouthpiece for the Lord via offering words of commendation to others that more or less fit the description of ‘well done good and faithful servant’-i.e. offering them a living eulogy.

Are you stingy with words of commendation or affirmation?

“Why do you call me Lord, Lord, but do not do what I say”?

Luke 6:46

CJS