3 Ways to Help People

This past week I was meeting with a couple, who needed someone to meet with them to encourage, listen and just be there for them. I called the pastor, and I spoke with his voice mail. I called another pastor from the same church, he was going off on a missions trip, and then I followed up again the next week. There was no one to meet with this couple for the past two weeks.

This was frustrating to know someone needs help but cannot get it. Our church needs mentors, disciples, first responders. What can we do to help? To be more ready to meet the needs of those we want to help.

Scripture says “be ready in season and out of season.” Be ready to give an account. Are we ready? Are we willing to walk with someone, through their hurt, blindness, fear, and doubt? How much easier to bring someone to the Lord than to follow them up. And deal with the messes in life.
 Are we serious about the ministry or do we just want to meet on Sunday and go home to our football or basketball or hockey (these days) and our Sunday dinner?

Here are three ways to help people in need:

1. Be ready to answer the call.

How do you do this? Know how to apply the scriptures to a person’s life. Ask the hard questions. To do this, you have to ask the hard questions of yourself first. (such as: How is your relationship with your wife and family? How is your relationship with God? How is your relationship with work? Are you taking care of yourself mentally, physically, spiritually? How is your thought life? Are you meeting with someone regularly to talk about life?
Let God speak to you through His word.

2. Take the time to LISTEN to someone.

Don’t just slap a bible verse on them. Really listen, and give feedback to them about what you heard in your own words. Find the meaning of the message, not just parroting back exactly what they said. But giving them the meaning of what they said in your own words.

3. Be willing to help and take action. Learn that you may not have all the answers.

You can refer them to someone you know if you cannot get help. In the case above I asked another person I was working with if they would meet with this person who needed help right away. He did, and something will be done.

Pray for the person and ask God to give you wisdom as to what is needed and how to help. You may only listen and take no action. That’s ok, that is helping too.

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