Here, Let Me Help You With That

With Jessica on bed rest, I've received many offers from various people and places to come and help us in one way or another.

This is a bit strange at first. A person doesn't get offered such acts of mercy on a normal basis. (I think the most recurring, normal opportunity for me to receive an act of mercy from someone else happens at "bill time" at the end of a meal when someone offers to cover the check.) Therefore, because of the sudden surge of offers, I've reflected somewhat on the dynamics of getting and giving this kind of help.

Most of us are somewhat reluctant to say yes when someone volunteers to give or do something for us. Now most every Christian I know already understands that Christians are to love and serve others (especially in times of hardship and trials). But have you ever considered that it might be just as valid and pressing a command of Christ that when you are in such circumstances, you let others do that and be that for you? It's the oft-overlooked other side of the coin. Yes help, serve, love when others are in need. But when you are in need, let others help, serve, and love you.

Jesus commanded us, "Love one another; just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another." (John 13:35) Well how did he love us? He loved us by taking the curse and the wrath of God that was ours to bear and bearing it (suffering under it) himself in our place on the cross. Now Jesus says, Do that for one another as I have done it for you.

That's why Paul commanded in Galatians 6:2 "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." Primarily, the way we love and serve one another should be a carrying of one another's burdens.

Consider that if you refuse to share your burden, if you refuse to acknowledge your burden, or if you refuse to admit the weightiness of such burdens, you are preventing your brothers and sisters from fulfilling the law of Christ in your regard.

I think some people consider it loving to refuse to let others help them. "Is there something I can do for you? Could I perhaps do _____."   "No that's okay. We're doing okay."

Listen, that is not love. Let that person "fulfill the law of Christ." Let that person take your burden as their burden and so give the world an image of the redemptive work of Christ. Don't keep them from doing that. Don't deprive them of that grace and blessing.

And most of all, don't let pride keep you from acknowledging that you need others to share your burdens with you. If you could have carried them on your own, there would be no place for the church. Christ thought you needed the church. Let's not tell him he's wrong by pridefully insisting that we can carry all our own life's burdens.

Here, let me help you with that!

Comments

[Jessica Haider]

Longest Comments Ever... but hey I am married to the preaher.

I like your thoughts. We have been so blessed by our church family recently. I love to see God's people loving sacrificially like Christ. I love to see the body working harmoniously. Praise God for working in the lives of the redeemed at our church and thank God that he has brought us to this place where he is at work!

I hope that together HHBC will grow more and more in both serving and loving others and reaching out for help when we need it. I read in Acts a few days ago about the early church sharing everything and living in a radical way to promote unity in the body and ultimately God's exaltation. I want people to see that kind of radical love when they look at HHBC!!! God made us to live together in relationships of giving and taking.

The church is a beautiful thing isn't it! We can live life together, share our burdens and our joys, all for the glory of God. And God is so pleased with this demonstration of love towards each other because it images and reflects Christ and his sacrificial love for his own.

Christians truly are freed by the gospel to turn our focus outward to serving others and pleasing God. We are able to do this because God has promised to meet our needs and our greatest need has surely already been met i he death of Jesus on the cross. Our reconciliation to God has been secured!! Our eyes have been opened and we can see what is truly valuable: the glory of God. So we can spend our resources (time, money, talents, and energy) to that end. How glorious!

For all our members, who and how can you serve the body? What are some ways that this church and the members of it serve you?

I am thinking that one of the best ways to truly serve and love your church family is by being personally devoted to growing in your walk with the Lord. The church is built up by the Word and by people saturated with the Word living out the gospel together! I bet Ryan can take that and run with it for his next blog post!