How Can We Know Whether to Help Someone?

How Can We Know Whether to Help Someone

Do you think we should help everyone who seems to need help?

Does it seem shocking and even unacceptable to not help everyone? Let’s examine Galatians 6:2,5 to find out:

“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ…For each will have to bear his own load.”

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The truths of Galatians 6:2, 5 can initially appear contradictory. On the one hand we are told to bear one another’s burdens, but then also that each person should bear their own load. A helpful distinction can be defining a “burden” as a challenge someone isn’t strong enough yet to handle. They haven’t progressed in their spiritual life enough to persevere without help.

A “load,” on the other hand, can be thought of as something a person is mature enough to handle on their own with God’s help. Doing so will increase their dependence on God and decrease their inappropriate dependence on people. These distinctions take a great deal of wisdom to identify.

Therefore, is every need an assignment from God?

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Let’s seek God’s guidance:

Psalm 49:7 Truly no man can ransom another, or give to God the price of his life,

Proverbs 19:19 A man of great wrath will pay the penalty, for if you deliver him, you will only have to do it again.

Proverbs 22:24–25 Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man, lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.

Proverbs 26:17 Whoever meddles in a quarrel not his own is like one who takes a passing dog by the ears.

The previous four selections of verses give a broader perspective for responding to struggling believers than we might usually consider. Often, we think we must respond to every need a Christian has and make sure she does the right thing, even to the point of feeling responsible for her choices. The wisdom from these verses can give us courage to do what might seem uncomfortable yet might be best for her.

For instance, Psalm 49:7 assures us we can’t be another person’s redeemer or give a ransom for them. Only Jesus qualifies because only he was sinless and could die for our sins, plus have the ability to sanctify us. Our courage can increase as we realize God can fulfill within another person what we can’t.

Proverbs 19:19 emphasizes how protecting an angry person from the consequences of her choices could encourage her to continue sinning. God will give us the courage to allow her to “pay the penalty,” knowing only then she’ll see the error of her ways.

Proverbs 22:24–25 warns us there are limits to the level of friendship that is best with certain people. We can be acquaintances, but we must put up a guard against being a close friend who has the possibility of influencing us poorly. Knowing this guideline will give us courage when God says to limit contact.

Finally, Proverbs 26:17 strengthens our courage to choose associations wisely by knowing not every battle of others is ours to fight. People may try to convince us their “dog” is ours to protect, but only God knows his assignments for us.

From these verses, we can have confidence knowing other people don’t need to dictate our choices. God will guide us.

How can you think of applying these ideas to someone’s plea for help right now?

(This material is taken from my women’s Bible Study Heart of Courage. Each of the ten lessons in Heart of Courage ends with a unique “Letter from God.” Here is this lesson’s “Letter from God”.)

My Precious Princess and Daughter:

You are a part of my body, the church. My beloved Son, Jesus, is the head, and you are an important and essential part of the church’s influence upon this world. My family can’t function as effectively without you because you bring to it the personally crafted skills and talents I gave to you. It may seem like such a big organism doesn’t need you, but that’s not true. Every child of mine is responsible to contribute to my body.

I knew from the beginning my body wouldn’t function perfectly. Human sinfulness and selfishness are like a disease within it, and I know the church will never be perfect. Yet, my plan is effective because of my power. I am the source of its courage. I want you to be a part of my glory as you contribute according to my calling upon you and my plan.

Don’t focus on the weaknesses of the church. Instead, focus on how I want to use you within it and outside of it to represent me to a confused, blinded world. You may feel like a small toenail, but I have important work for you to accomplish for me. Every part of the whole is equally important and useful. Let me guide you as to who and how you want me to use you to minister to others.

Let my forgiveness of you give you the courage to forgive others. You aren’t perfect and neither are your brothers or sisters in Christ. You need each other.

I love you, and I love all my children equally. Live with a courageous heart.

Lovingly,

Your Heavenly Father, the King