“It’s Okay to Accept Help”
You’ve either heard or said, “We really do need each other.” In reading the Bible it’s discovered we are created for relationships. Genesis 2:18 says, “It is not good that man (woman) should live alone.” There are many more verses indicating the need and purpose of having personal relationships with others. Here is a small sampling:
“Two are better than one …” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10); “As iron sharpens iron …” Proverbs 27:17); “A friend loves at all times …” (Proverbs 17:17); and “Be devoted to one another …” (Romans 12:10). The Bible is the textbook or manual not just for building strong marriages, but friendships and the need for friendships.
One of the most challenging spiritual disciplines for many people is not giving help but receiving it. We admire strength and self-reliance, and we often feel that asking for or accepting help is a sign of weakness. However, God’s design for community paints a very different picture. He created us not just to give help, but also to receive it graciously.
The Apostle Paul instructs us to “bear one another’s burdens” (Galatians 6:2). Most of us are familiar with this verse but some fail to understand it’s a two-way street. For someone to bear a burden, someone else must be willing to share it. When help is refused, you’re exercising your independence and denying the service of another.
Allowing someone to help is an act of humility – it’s admitting you aren’t superhuman and you can’t navigate life’s heaviest seasons alone. It’s okay to let someone bring you a meal after surgery or take your kids to school when you’re sick. If you have a friend that you can confide in, they are a gift. If they can trust you with their struggles, you are a gift to them. It’s a basic truth of life, “We do need each other!”
Loving and caring for one another is fulfilling God’s plan for our lives. Of course, the most important relationship for each of us is developing a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Through Him we find the true meaning and purpose of life. A big part of God’s plan and purpose for us is not only in helping (serving) others but accepting their acts of kindness (and service) when we need it.
Pastor Carnes
