How Can You Help?

If you’re driving down the freeway and get a flat tire, and the president of the United States drives by, nobody expects him to stop and help you replace a tire. He’s too important to deal with your problems.

But that’s not Kingdom values—that’s worldly values. Jesus said, if you want to be great, you must be the servant of all. The more you give of yourself and serve other people, the greater you are in God’s Kingdom.

My wife has an international ministry and has spoken all over the world. I remember a few years back when she had four major speaking engagements in a short time period. She got home from one trip and was totally wiped out. She went immediately to the kitchen and started cooking a meal for a family in our neighborhood that was going through a major struggle. She didn’t think she was too important. She put her exhaustion aside so she could help others. She has done this over and over again since then—because she wants to be like Jesus. She wants to serve.

What does it mean to love like Jesus? “Each one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, ‘How can I help?’” (Romans 15:2 The Message).

Look for how Jesus may be in your life disguised as a hurting person. He may be at the water cooler on Monday morning. He may be at the soccer game. He may be the person behind you in the grocery store line. He may be the most unlovable person you know who is carrying a deep hurt. If you want to serve Jesus, then start by showing up for the hurting people around you.

Romans 12:13 says, “When God’s children are in need, you be the one to help them out. And get into the habit of inviting guests home for dinner or, if they need lodging, for the night” (TLB).

There are many people in your church, neighborhood, and even family who are single moms working to put food on the table, widows who are lonely in their empty houses, students who are overwhelmed by life in a pandemic.

How can you love them like Jesus today?