Help People
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or
vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to
your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. –
Philippians 2:3-4
Late yesterday afternoon during a torrential downpour
I drove to a neighboring town. Why? Because a friend’s truck, which was in the
shop for repair, was ready to be picked up. He needed a ride. I provided it.
Was it convenient? No. Was it fun? Nope. White-knuckle
driving isn’t fun. But he needed a ride and I was able to give him one. Gladly,
I might add. Because we all need someone sometimes.
We live in a world that tells us to look out for
number one. Life has become a continual competition. We must “win” at any cost,
against anyone else. It doesn’t matter if it’s work or family or church or
neighborhood. We’ve got to be out front or we’ve lost. That’s what the world
tells us, anyway.
In Jesus’ kingdom, just the opposite is true. We are
to be servants. We are to help people. We are to share what we have freely with
others, whether we believe they deserve it or not.
We brush that last bit aside. We choose to ignore what
Jesus really said and focus on what makes sense to us. Being a disciple of
Jesus isn’t easy. Why? Because it’s not about us. It’s about Him. It’s about
serving the people He loves, whether it’s convenient or not.
A few years ago I called on a friend to give my Mother
a ride home. We were at the hospital where my Dad was in ICU. I didn’t have
time to take her home and be back for the next visitation. She was worn out and
needed to rest. It was one of many times when I was torn apart trying to
balance the needs of two elderly parents.
This friend drove about 30 miles to get her, then
another 30-plus miles to take her home. Then he had another 22 miles to get
back to his home. It wasn’t a quick trip. And that’s without adding in the slow
movements of an elderly person. He did it anyway. Would you?
I’ve had people go out of their way to help me with
cows, with furniture, with downed trees. I’ve had people who show up again and
again, whether it’s at the hospital or my home, just because they wanted to
know I was okay.
On the flip side of that, I’ve tried to be there for
others. It’s not always easy. I’ve sat in hospital rooms, spent the day taking
a mom to see her daughter in ICU in another state, baked cakes to entice finicky
eaters, and done many other things. Why? Because it matters.
People remember that you show up. You don’t need fancy
words or a bank full of money. You don’t need to be able to fix what’s broken.
You just need to be there.
And it needs to be about them. What do they need? What
service can you provide? How can you help? It’s not about what you want but
what they want.
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