Overcomer #10 – Helping Others
As we experience freedom in Christ, we can in turn help others.
Here’s a simple way: “And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone” (1 Thessalonians 5:14).
1. Warn those who are idle and disruptive. Speak directly to the inactive so they get the point and get going.
The image here is of a disorderly soldier or a disarrayed army. Some believers, as it were, abandon their posts, neglect their duties, create havoc, and need to be guided back in line. Tell them the truth in love. Get them back on track so they are busy doing kingdom work.
2. Encourage the disheartened. Communicate to the worried, the overburdened, the discouraged, the fearful that someone cares.
Give them the priceless gift of encouragement. Tell them God cares and that you care. You understand. You are standing with them. It may be a few affirming words. It may be a gentle touch or a smile or a shoulder to lean on. It may be your presence. Lift them up with heart and hands.
3. Help the weak. Hold on and hold up the spiritually weak, the weary, the burned-out so their strength may be renewed.
Hold on to them. Stick up for them. Stand by them. Hold them up so they can stand up strong and firm. They need to feel that they are not alone. Give them the support they need. They need to know that someone is there with them, who will cleave to them in a difficult moment, who will not give up on them.
4. Be patient with everyone. Give everyone a little slack.
Keep a long fuse. Don’t blow up when others fail. Don’t be short-tempered when other change slowly. Don’t brew with unforgiving irritability or restless anger.
Rather, be calm, steady, long-suffering. Give people time and space to grow up. Allow them the freedom to change.
Martin Luther said, “Faith, like light, should always be simple and unbending. While love, like warmth, should beam forth on every side and bend to every need of our brothers and sisters in Christ.”
~ Pastor Dave
