Helping Others

And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. (Acts 2:44-45)

Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. (Galatians 6:2)

I read this story once about a young husband who knocked on the door of this retired doctor in a small town in an attempt to get help for his wife. The doctor came to the door and said, “Hello, may I help you?” and the young man said, “Sir, my wife has had an accident and is in the car bleeding. She is dying and is in need of your help to save her.”  

Much to the concerned husband’s surprise, the retired doctor said, “I’m sorry son but I can’t help you. I stopped practicing many years ago. I don’t have any equipment here. I don’t have any medical supplies. There’s nothing I can do.”  

Frustrated and distraught, the young husband said, “Sir, if you can no longer help hurting people, if you can no longer facilitate healing for those in need, then you should just take down your sign. Why have a sign saying this is a clinic, if you’re not able be of any assistance to those in need?”  

That story is sad, but it speaks to a prevailing concern in the world regarding the church. There is a world that is bleeding to death; a world that is hurting; a world that is in need of our help. And we’ve got a sign up saying we can help heal their wounds. We’ve got a sign suggesting that we are able to provide them with the answers that would bring them to life. But if we can’t help them, if we’re not going to help them, then we need to take down our sign.

We must be the kind of Jesus-followers who bear one another’s burdens, who offer help and resources to those in need, and who care for those who are hurting. In doing so, we’ll surely make an amazing impact in this pain-filled world for Christ.