Be Willing To Provide, Or Ask For, Help
Word-Of-The-Day: ‘If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?’ (1 John 3:17)
1 John 3:11-24 focuses on two of the strongest emotions we humans have; love and hatred. When we see a person in need, we often have a feeling of empathy and pity upon that person, but depending on the relationship or closeness we have with that person may dictate our response. We see the commercials on TV (children’s hospitals, victims of disasters or oppression, veteran support groups) or get the flyers in the mail of people having needs; while we may help some of them with a donation, we cannot possibly provide for all of them.
The closer we get to the need, though, the more willing (if we have the ability) we are to help. We know those who may need help, or those who are acting to help, so we respond more so than to an ad. It is that close interaction and more intimate knowledge that we have of those we are close to that (normally) will compel us to provide out of our compassion.
The Apostle John recognizes that is someone able but not willing to help out a fellow brother or sister in Christ, may not really be a brother or sister in Christ. It must be understood that a person must be willing and able; I may be willing to help someone out but I may not be able to help, due to not having the resources (time, treasures (or tools), and talents) to assist. (I can’t help anyone else in welding as I have neither a welder or the talent to weld, for example.) If I do have the ability to help, I should be willing to help as Jesus, who is our example, would be willing to help. One area we can all do – we can certainly all pray!
Conversely, if I am in need, I should not be so prideful to not ask for help. There are times when I think I can do things on my own, or I can overcome a hurdle, that ends up in delays or extended agony when I should be willing to ask for help. I have gotten better at this; I have found it is often not a burden but a blessing for those who are asked to help. I am blessed and thankful for when I can help others close to me. We should not be so prideful as to think we cannot ask for help.
Sometimes the help we need to ask for is not material (as John discusses) but Spiritual; I pray for each of those in my circle of fellowship, and often it helps if I can focus on a specific need. To be specific does not need the details (especially if embarrassing) but specific as ‘I have a prayer need that God knows I have’. We in fellowship can pray for that specific thing, the thing that God knows the details. The great thing is God knows what we are praying about!
Some don’t want pity and therefore won’t ask for others to pray or to assist. Know that we don’t have to view it with pity, but instead with compassion – and if we can help we who are in Christ will help if we are able to – and that is a blessing, not a burden for us!
