HELP!!!

God is our refuge and strength,

a very present help in trouble.

Psalm 46

Every one of us at one time or another is going to need help in some way. Most of us hate with a passion having to ask for help, even though in a moment of weakness or difficulty, we really need to reach out for it. Helping people fall into three general categories:

• those who need help
• those who give help, and
• the help only God can give.
  

A little over a week ago, I bruised up my right knee. It was the day before Brian was to return home from Texas. It was a Friday I did this. I usually run the church bulletin and other items on Saturdays but with Brian returning the next day, I wanted to get it finished on Friday. I knew from the soreness of my knee that I should stay home with ice on it. It took everything in me to arrive at that decision. I sent an e-mail to our pastor about my dilemma. You will never know how hard that was for me to do. He didn't answer my message...he and his wife jumped in their car and before I knew it, they were on my front porch. My hair was a mess and I wasn't in my usual attire although I was decent. (Talk about pride). They just wanted to make sure I was okay and graciously said they would take care of the bulletin. I was so grateful for their kindness and help.

Here's the problem...when we need help, no matter what kind, we don't have enough humility to ask for it. We know folks who would come to our rescue, but we feel that asking for help is a sign of weakness. WELL, it most often is a sign of weakness. Just the fact that we need help shows at the minute that we just can't function to full capability. The help we need most often may deal with small needs. We really feel embarrassed about putting someone to some inconvenience over little things.

Then there are those who are the helpers. What would we do without them. When recovering from a fall last October, there were folks who came straight to the hospital, brought food to the house and made themselves available to me for whatever I might need. But those are folks who will help me fold bulletins or set up tables and chairs for ladies Bible study. Being a helper, though, also takes a certain amount of humility. A helper may be asked to do some nitty-gritty things that are pretty unlovely. Remember how Jesus washed the feet of His disciples? That was rarely done in that day. Back then, you washed your own dirty feet. I realize, though, that His act was more of a spiritiual lesson.

Someone in the New Testament who has impressed me with his humility in this area is the Apostle Paul. Who would think that spiritual dynamo would ever need to ask for help of any kind. He spoke of people by name who had been a real help to him...Aquila, folks in the Philippian church who had aided him financially, Timothy and Epaphroditus and others. At times when ending a letter, he would ask someone to bring him parchments and even a cloak. He viewed all of those helpers as fellow ministers. Pride never entered into his life when serving others or being served.

The main area where I fall short, however, is in seeking the Lord's help. I'm not quick to ask for anyone's help but it's really bad when I feel independent from the Lord. He can call His forces to my side when I'm in need. He can lead someone right to me who just senses I have a need. God can do amazing things on my behalf. In His Word, He so heartily invites me directly or through those who have penned Scripture to call on Him for whatever I need. The following are some of these invitations and we should take full advantage of them:

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace,

that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help

in time of need.

Hebrews 4:15

For the Lord God will help me; therefore shall I

not be confounded: therefore have I set my face

like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.

Isaiah 50:7

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed;

for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will

help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right

hand of my righteousness.

Isaiah 41:10

So, to summarize: A) Don't be too proud to ask for or accept help when needed; B) don't be too proud of being a helper, to come along side of someone in need of help. Know that the Lord will often lead you to someone out of the clear blue who needs you; and C) every need should be taken to the Lord even if someone is on hand already to help. He is the greatest help we can have in any situation.

Hear, O LORD, and have mercy upon me: LORD, be thou my helper. Amen (Ps. 30:10)