When You Want to Help
I saw a friend of mine today and she obviously wasn’t feeling well. I didn’t have the possibility of talking to her long but I could tell she wasn’t feeling good. I searched my thoughts for something I could do to help her out.
But I’ve felt that way often over the last month or two. As a church body, I know of several friends, brothers and sisters in Christ, that are dealing with sickness or physical ailments. In many of these cases, either myself or my wife have asked what we can do to help and been politely rebuffed. I’d argue, but it wasn’t that long ago I was preparing for surgery and several people asked me or my wife what they could do to help. We politely thanked them and replied nothing as well.
We all deal with these physical or sickness or other issues that impact our lives. I have always operated under the assumption that unless the situation is severe, we can handle it within our family without asking for too much help. Long term, I think that it a good strategy as long as the person can tell when that limit has been hit and not wait too long before reaching out for help.
That seems to be a common problem by people that reach that stage. How many people have you heard of where the main care giver, usually the husband or the wife, work themselves into exhaustion trying to take care or their significant other, themselves and their house. None of us wants to admit that we can’t do it all anymore but as we age, we need to accept just that.
“Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.”- Romans 12:9-13 ESV
“Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” - 1 Peter 4:8-11
I’m still working on being more observant of others needs and wants as much as I am about my own needs and wants so I consider myself a work-in-progress. But there is something that I can do that I believe helps - pray.
“Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” - James 5:13-16
“We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” - 1 Thessalonians 5:12-18
If there is anything I can do to help you brothers and sisters, please let me know and don’t hope that I can figure it out on my own.
