What kind of helper are you? Do you like to help, or not so much? Or does it depend on what kind of help is needed?
Right now my son wants to help with anything that involves cooking. He likes to measure, pour, mix, and taste. Especially taste. There are times when it would be a little easier (and a LOT faster) if I just did things myself, but I love that he loves to help, so we pull out the step ladder and just let dinner be a little later.
I’m extra grateful for his helpfulness, because, truth be known, I was not a big helper as a kid. I was pretty independent, which basically means I wanted to do things myself without anyone telling me what to do or how to do it. So since I didn’t need or want help, I had a hard time understanding people who did. When people said they needed help, I figured they were either lazy or they were trying to “teach me something” through work. Well, I didn’t want any part of that!
It took me a lot of years to understand that there are times when each of us—even independent people like me—need help from other people.
Get out your Bible and read about a time when Jesus helped someone in need. You’ll find it in John 5:1-15.
This was a pretty special pool! Every once in awhile, the waters would start to churn, like a whirlpool almost. Then, whoever got into the pool first was healed. I can’t imagine seeing all of the people who were sitting around waiting for healing. The man that Jesus talked with had been there for almost forty years! All that time and no one had helped him get to the pool first.
I wonder why? Maybe they figured he was strong enough to get into the pool on his own. I’m sure it took a long time waiting for the waters to churn, so maybe his friends didn’t have that kind of extra time. Or do you think he was the kind of guy who just didn’t have any friends to help him at all? Thankfully, Jesus showed up. He knew what this man needed and healed him.
We have our own reasons for not helping people. Sometimes we think it’ll cost too much to help someone. It’ll cost us money. It’ll cost us time. It may even cost us other friendships or our reputation if we get teased for helping in the first place. Other times we figure we shouldn’t help. We’re convinced that either the person doesn’t really need help or, if they do, that we don’t know how.
But these are really just excuses. The truth is that we can bring a lot of helping to people in very simple ways. Maybe you know someone who needs money. You may not be able to give them all that they need, but you could give them some grocery money or even invite them over for dinner. Is there someone at school or at work who is having a hard time learning what they need to know? Maybe you can help them study or go over the manual with them during lunch. Sometimes they biggest need a person has is just to have a friend they can talk to who will listen and care about them. Everyone can do that!
One of the cool things about this story is that we see Jesus help twice. First, helps the man walk again, which was what the man wanted most. But then at the end, Jesus comes back and offers help for the man’s heart when He warns him not to sin anymore. That’s the help the man really needed!
When we help others, when we offer that help and hope that they’re looking for, God uses it to connect people to himself. That’s a great reason to help!
Talk together about ways you and your family can help someone you know. It could be a friend, a neighbor, a family member, or maybe even people you don’t really know. Think of something you can do to help meet a need. Now pray that God would use this help to show the hope they have in Jesus.
