I hope & trust this post finds you having a great day as a glorious new day begins to dawn.
Last Saturday morning my Beautiful Bride & one of my Tender Warriors were talking about helping others. Kath said something like, "I would rather help someone than give them money." She went on to say that this felt better to her heart. At that moment there was some sort of revelation within me and I said, "I think the real key is giving them whatever they need at that time. Sometimes it's money, sometimes it's help." We all sat there for a moment with stunned looks on our faces, our heads turned a little bit sideways like puppies, as we realized I had just spoken something wise however also recognizing that the wisdom was far to great to have come simply from me. Praise the Lord!
I have thought a lot about that conversation this week. I have prayed daily that God would open my eyes & heart, that I would see the true need that each person I am blessed to cross paths with on a daily basis has and that I would have the courage to help them, to meet their need, whenever possible. This is my hope, prayer & challenge for each one of us this week...that we would be awake, see the true needs of others and that when able, we would meet them.
At different times, sometimes within the same day, each one of us have different needs. Sometimes it is an encouraging word, other times it is physical help. Sometimes we need money to buy food or to pay an unexpected bill. And at others we need someone to just validate us. The needs are as unique as the individual person & situation. Whether we will humble ourselves enough to admit it or not, we all need help at some point in time. Just as I would argue this is an absolute truth, I would also argue that it is an absolute truth that no amount of help given to one in need is insignificant. A few things immediately come to mind as I type these words:
1. First, I am reminded of a sweet story that illustrates the point beautifully. There was an elderly man who had lost his wife of many years. As he sat on his porch weeping, a little boy - in my mind he is 5-years old though I don't know if that is accurate - who lived next door to him went over and climbed up in his lap and sat with him, not saying a word. After sitting with him for a while the little boy goes back home. His mom asks him what he was doing and the little boy says, "I was helping him cry." Sometimes what a person needs is not our words, money or help. They just simply need us to be there.
2. I am also very mindful of those who will say, "God gives me everything I need" or "God will meet their needs." God does give me everything I need and He will meet the needs of everyone who will humbly ask Him to help them...and He often, perhaps I should say mostly, does this through other people. This is the way He created us - to love, serve and help others. If the statements are spoken in humility they are in fact wise and will make us open to serving as well as being served by others. If they are spoken in self-sufficiency or indifference they are coming from a proud heart and the Bible warns us that pride comes before the fall.
3. A real key word in all this is discernment. Sometimes we confuse wants with needs and, as we look at others, we can get judgmental, cynical and skeptical. I love this definition of discernment I found when Googling the word: "(in Christian context) perception in the absence of judgement with a view to obtaining spiritual direction and understanding." It is interesting that it first prefaces "in Christian context." It goes back to the question; What Will Your Influence Be...in your life? I am reminded of the quote that says, "you cannot be influenced by what you do not know." If I am not seeking God, asking to be filled with the Holy Spirit, I am going to struggle to have true discernment.
"perception in the absence of judgement"...isn't that beautiful?!?! That we would perceive the need without judging the person. Have you ever seen someone and said, "Oh, that poor man/woman. If only they weren't on drugs/an alcoholic [fill in the blank with anything else]." Our judgement creeps in. While it may in fact be true that they have made poor choices - who hasn't?!?! - this does not eliminate the fact that there is still a need. The cry of my heart...that I would perceive without judging!!!
"view of obtaining spiritual direction and understanding"...that we would get direction and understanding to meet the need(s) and that we would actually do it. As I type this, Mother Teresa comes to mind. How was she able to love, hug & help the dirty, broken & sick? I believe by obtaining spiritual direction and understanding. She was more focused on the person, the need of the person than the things that others found repulsive. Think about that...it challenges my spirit as I see my pride get in the way of my spiritual direction and understanding.
I want to close by sharing a few scriptures with you:
"For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' Then the righteous will answer him, saying, "Lord, when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?' And the King will answer them, "Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me."
- Matthew 25: 35 - 40
This scripture starts off with a pretty good list of needs we can meet...
"What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead."
- James 2: 14 - 17
"Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."
- Galatians 6: 2
"Let each one of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others."
- Philippians 2: 4
Please don't hesitate to contact me if there is ever anything I can do for you or your family. I will always help you any way I can. You can reach me at kevin@whatwillyourinfluencebe.com.
Have a great day, a wonderful weekend and please cherish your precious families.
Kev
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