As believers, we are called to a life of doing good. One of the subclasses of doing good is helping others. The two terms will be used interchangeably in this post. The life of a believer is a life of service. Service to others includes rendering help. Many times, it may not be convenient to help, but we are told not to relent in doing good.
There was a woman named Tabitha who cheated death because of how often she lent a helping hand to others. The scripture did not tell us that Tabitha was a wealthy woman. All we knew about her was that she was very generous with her help, sewing clothes for widows and caring for them. With the little she could do, she rendered help. A day came when she was so sick that she died. But because of the seed of help that she had sown in the lives of many, word got to the apostles and she was brought back to life. (Acts 9:36-42)
Helping people includes giving to the needy. It includes interceding for others who may need support through prayers. It includes pleading for justice for the widow, defending the oppressed, and taking care of the helpless. And like our Lord Jesus did, it also includes healing those oppressed by the devil. (Psa. 82:3; Isa. 1:17; Acts 10:38)
The Bible tells us that Jesus was always out and about doing good and helping people. Those people who were being plagued by demons needed help. For so long, they had been suffering the oppression of the devil but along came Jesus and pulled them out of that pit. He helped them. Helping people is a reflection of our belonging to Christ. As His disciples on earth, we should be doing nothing less. (Acts 10:38)
Rendering the right help in a particular circumstance is as important as rendering the help itself. The scripture tells us that if someone asks for food from us and we turn him away while praying for him, how exactly have we helped such a person? If the solution to a person’s problems lies in your hands, prayer should not be your next point of action. Don’t pray for God to send help. In such a case, you are the help He has sent. If you are to pray in that moment, it should only be a prayer of thanksgiving for the opportunity to help someone else. (Jam. 2:15-16; Gal. 6:10)
Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act.
Proverbs 3:27 NIV
Being able to help starts with letting go of a selfish mentality. When all you can think of is yourself, then you will find it difficult to help others. The rich man was only concerned about himself and his future and all of that, that he could not even bring himself to help the beggar who sat at his gate with sores that dogs licked. He didn’t even do as much as let him have the crumbs that fell off his table. (Lk. 16:19)
Bearing each other’s burdens will make it easier for you to help others. If you stop to consider the pain of others once in a while, you will not have issues with helping. (Php 2:4; Gal 6:2)
When you are expecting something in return for help rendered, it is no longer help but a transaction. Numerous times the scripture mentions how those who help or do good will be repaid for it. But don’t let that be your motivation. Let the mind that was in Christ also be in you. Jesus Christ helped us out of our sins and out of the impending eternal condemnation we had to face, even when we were still sinners. He did what He did out of love not as a means of eye service. When you help others so they can help you in return, it is not help. (Php. 2:5; Jn. 3:16)
God, through His Spirit, gives us ability to help people. The scripture in Acts 10:38 says “How God anointed Jesus Christ of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and power and He went about doing good and healing all those who were oppressed of the Devil, for God was with Him”. The Holy Spirit with Him, was His ability to help people. The flesh may want you to ignore that person that needs your help but the Spirit becomes your strength to render that help.
People who are sick need help and for that, we have received power to lay hands on the sick and watch them recover. People who are oppressed by the devil need help and for that, we have received power to cast out devils. People who are deep in sin need help and for that, we have received power to be witnesses. (Mk. 16:17-18; Acts 1:8)
In conclusion, the help Abraham rendered to strangers brought him the blessing he longed for (Gen 18: 1-14; Heb 13:2). Helping others is beneficial to us. More importantly, it is a biblical mandate. It makes us better christians and better people in general. We boast of eternal life because we have received help from God (Jn 3:16). Don’t shy away from extending help to others as well.
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