Helping Others – “Who Me?”: Part 2 – Time for an Attitude Check

In the last installment (http://www.marketfaith.org/2017/09/helping-others-who-me-part-1-the-spiritual-resources-for-helping), we began a three part series on loving and helping others. As Christians we must be available to help others. We often have opportunities to lend aid to those in need. The recent rash of natural disasters is a good example. Most of us know the good work of the American Red Cross. However, many Christian relief agencies are often the first to provide food and shelter to the victims of hurricanes, earthquakes, or other calamities. I used to work for a mission agency that coordinated hundreds of disaster relief teams from all over America. I saw first-hand the complexity of managing such a task.In the last installment (http://www.marketfaith.org/2017/09/helping-others-who-me-part-1-the-spiritual-resources-for-helping), we began a three part series on loving and helping others. As Christians we must be available to help others. We often have opportunities to lend aid to those in need. The recent rash of natural disasters is a good example. Most of us know the good work of the American Red Cross. However, many Christian relief agencies are often the first to provide food and shelter to the victims of hurricanes, earthquakes, or other calamities. I used to work for a mission agency that coordinated hundreds of disaster relief teams from all over America. I saw first-hand the complexity of managing such a task.
Let’s begin this part by reviewing what we addressed in part one in which we discussed the spiritual sources and resources for helping others. We examined three essential sources. First is Jesus Christ Himself. He solved our greatest problem of sin. He is also the perfect example of one who cares and gives aid to those suffering. Second is the Holy Spirit. He is our supernatural source of power to overcome sin, and to do the works of God. Third are the Scriptures; the Word of God; the Bible. It our handbook for life and provides practical spiritual and moral principles for assisting others.
In this second installment we examine the attitudes we need for helping others. (In part three we will highlight some practical ways for giving aid.)
First, lets review an old story by Hans Christian Andersen. He wrote the story of “The Ugly Duckling” in 1843 in Denmark. Here is my abbreviated version.
There once was a mother bird and her family who lived by pond. Sadly, one day one of her baby’s got lost. He wandered around the pond where he found a family of baby ducks. The mother duck looked at the lost bird and felt sorry for him.
“Why don’t you join our brood,” she said kindly. The little lost bird was thankful he had a home, but he had a problem. The other ducklings thought he was ugly, so they named him, “Ugly.” The other ducks laughed at him and did not include him in their activities. They said: “You’re just too ugly!”
The lonely little ugly duckling was so sad and, after several months when he had grown he decided to leave the brood. Again he wandered around pond. Soon he came upon another group of beautiful birds swimming in the water. “Come on in an join us!” they said. “You’re a wonderful bird.” The Ugly Duckling thought, “They don’t think I’m ugly?” He looked in the water and saw his reflection. He was not a duck at all. He was a beautiful swan just like them.
This old story, of course, has a moral. We should love and help others, not for what they are, but because we never know what they can become with God’s help. How many people have you known whose lives were chaotic or pointless until they came to Christ. The point is that we always need to check our attitudes as we try help others. There are three basic checks we need take to inventory our attitudes.
First, we need to be sure we are filled with the Holy Spirit. In Ephesians 5:15-21, the Apostle Paul writes:”Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.” (NASB)
In part one we talked about Jesus sending the Holy Spirit (the “Comforter” or  “Helper” – John 14:26; 15:26-27; and 16:7-14). Being filled with the Spirit is essential for developing helping right attitudes toward others. Paul says He is what allows us to worship together in joy and harmony.
Second, we need to be filled with God’s love. In John 15:9-14 Jesus told His disciples, “Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full. This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command you.” (NASB)
Have you ever heard the term “undifferentiated ego mass?” Probably not, as it is a rather dispassionate and technical term used in some fields of psychology to mean what we typically refer to as “love.” Jesus, however, told His disciple to abide or live in His love. His great command was “love (agape) one another.” People today have distorted views about what love really is, and typically base their ideas on what they see in the movies or hear in popular music. Most settle for what might be called “cheap love” (which in many cases really means sex). Can you imagine Jesus saying, “Have undifferentiated ego mass for one another?” Real love is God’s love. John says, “God is love” (not “love is God” – 1 John 4:8). That kind of love is not just an emotion or physical attraction, but a real and practical force in human life. Love is the most important attitude we need to help others.
Third,  we to have an attitude of praying for others before we can help them. One of Paul’s most superlative statements is in 1 Thessalonians 5:15-18.”See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all people. Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (NASB)
Seeking what is good and praying for others, especially for our fellow Christians, is the greatest example of having right attitudes. Praying for others does work, sometimes in ways we never know. Most of the time when we pray for others it is for their physical health. Certainly that is important. However, we also need to intercede for their financial, personal, and social needs. Above all we should be concerned for their spiritual well-being. As Paul remarked to the Colossians (1:9-14),”For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously  giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light. For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” (NASB)
And, if they are not Christians, we should pray for their salvation. We can ask the Holy Spirit to work in their lives to lead them toward Christ. In a way we are all “UGLY DUCKLINGS,” but that is why Jesus came, to make us what we were intended to be, beautiful swans. Why? Because He loved us and gave Himself for us. Therefore we must do the same for others.
In the previous installment we looked at the resources God provides to help people in need. In this, part two, we considered the importance of our attitudes. In part three we will examine some practical ways we can show love and assist others.
© 2017 Tal Davis