The concept and actual act of mankind helping his fellow man is certainly nothing new. From the first day God created man it has existed. Eve must have handed Adam a bunch of grapes and said "Try these, you'll like them". Seriously, throughout the Bible there are thousands of examples of how someone helped out someone else. The reasons why we help out our fellow man are far too numerous to list. Obviously, in most cases it is because that specific person actually does need help in some form or another. I doubt this will ever change as long as man walks this planet.
Something has changed however. Just in my life time, I've seen how the actual process of helping people has become more complicated. I suppose part of the complications are a result of our society in general. For one thing, people just aren't as trusting as they used to be. There is clearly some basis for this distrust. Just watch the news for all kinds of examples. The perception that everyone has some kind of hidden agenda permeates society today.
Another possible reason for why it's more complicated to help others is based in "time". Everyone is so busy that even if someone wants to help someone else, it's hard to squeeze it into their busy schedules. Yes the pace of our lives has radically changed but I fail to see how it is a good change.
I think that most folks would rather have a slower pace to their lives but it's not easy to bring that about. Pressure's from all sides screaming "go faster", "get more done", make it very difficult to slow down. To slow down and see what is going on around ones own life. To slow down and actually help those around us in need. It not only takes a toll on our lives but those in need of help.
I think one of the saddest consequences of not helping others is that when we fail to help someone else in need, we are missing out on the blessing that is awaiting us when we do reach out and help. God lets no instance of charity or compassion go unnoticed or rewarded. When the Holy Spirit pricks the heart of a Believer, not only are we doing what we should be doing but we receive that feeling of confirmation of God's approval in our hearts.
When we reach out and help someone in need we are truly behaving like Jesus himself would. We are following His instructions Matt. 25:30-40 "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 hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And 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.". And He knows what we have done. It may not seem like a big thing in our eyes but it is in His.
In your daily walk, how often have you missed the opportunity to help someone else who is in need of help? How many blessings have you missed out on in your life? How many other lives would be better today if we just reached out that helping hand when we felt we should have? For most of us that number is something we would rather not think too much about but we should.
The problem often lies in that we see the big instances where our help is clearly needed but we missed all those little instances where just a few minutes of our time could totally make the difference in the life of someone else's. We often don't know the impact in another's life that just a few minutes of time or a few well spoken words will make. Those few minutes or well spoken words may actually save a life. We often don't know but God surely does.
My challenge to you today is to Slow Down And Listen When The Holy Spirit Tells You To Help!
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