Christians need to learn to encourage others from the Word rather than from their own personal experiences.  Granted, sharing from experience is much easier.  It requires no study and little effort.  However, there are a number of reasons why it is better to share from the Scriptures rather than personal experience.

 

It is truth from God’s Word that makes the Christian thoroughly equipped for the Christian life.

2 Timothy 3:16-17
16All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

God’s Word is the only pure source of truth.  While there is truth outside the Bible, we have to sort through what we see, smell, feel, etc. to determine what is truth and what is not.  We may not “sort” correctly. 

Psalm 12:6
6The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times.

 

Psalm 119:160
160The sum of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous ordinances is everlasting.

God has promised to bless His Word, not your reasoning (logic, “sorting power,” etc.).  When we encourage others according to our own logic or feelings, we are trusting that we are correct in our logic or feelings (or, “sorting power”).  This is dangerous.  The Bible is pure truth – uncontaminated.  Why resort to our own logic and feelings?  It is certainly easier to share from our own thinking and feelings, but we may spout error.  Even if it is not “error” it is “not necessary.”  If you are giving me Bible truth, I must accept it.  If you give me your own thoughts, I do not have to accept it.  God will judge me according to His Word, not yours.

Psalm 19:7
7The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.

The Word is “more sure” than an experience.  What can you be sure of outside of the Bible?

2 Peter 1:19-21
19And we have something more sure, the prophetic word, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, 20knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. 21For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

God gave us His Word to use to encourage others.  He did not give us the Bible and then tell us to encourage others according to our own reasoning or experience.

Romans 15:4
4For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

The Bible is the tool by which the church is sanctified (made holy).  Your experiences may seem significant, but only God’s Word is “pure” and able to “cleanse” the church.

John 17:17
17“Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.

 

Ephesians 5:25-26
25…Christ…loved the church and gave Himself up for her, 26so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word

 

Psalm 119:9
9How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word.

 

Acts 20:32
32“And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.