Tuesday; September 23
What do we do when people
offer to help us? Many of us grew up
with an American sense of independence and we get defensive when someone offers
to help us. We tend to view offers of
assistance as charity and we don’t like charity. We feel like we can do things on our own and
accepting a gift from someone else somehow makes us less self-sufficient. Coming from when and where I did, this
mindset is not only understandable, it is also popular. However, what would happen if we swallowed
our pride and let people help us? Even
when the need is debatable, there could be value in accepting offers of
assistance.
Interestingly, this is
more than just a social struggle, there is a spiritual component to it as
well. Centuries ago, when the Apostle
Paul reflected on a gift he had been given by a local congregation, he noted, “Not
that I seek the gift itself, but I seek for the profit which increases to
your account.” (Philippians 4:17). Like
many of us, Paul may not have needed the help, but he saw the need for the
church to be helpful, so he graciously accepted their gift.
Are we willing to swallow
our pride and allow others to bless us?
When we do, not only will we get more, we will also be able to give a
little bit of ourselves.
Think About It!