Fresh Mannaby Pastor Tim BurtHave you looked around recently? In case you did not notice, you are surrounded by all sorts of people who are in need. Some will openly tell you about what they are going through and others will hide it behind a smile figuring it doesn’t do much good to complain and few like to listen anyway. Whether you notice them all or not, there are an abundance of people in need all around you!When you do take note of them, the thought that so often comes to mind is, What can I do about their situation? I don't have the ability to resolve it. You add to this the fact that most people are busy looking out for their own lives and working to meet their own needs. It takes a lot of work just to get your own issues and needs taken care of. You deserve the right to look after yourself don't you? Who has the time to think about everyone else's needs?
Rich or poor, we all need a rudder to keep us balanced so that we don't turn completely inward—something contrary to God's plan to bless you! That rudder is having Jesus' spirit of compassion regarding the needs of others, without feeling guilty about what you can't do.We can learn from Ezekiel 16:49 NIV, "Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy." In these verses the people of Sodom were flourishing. Abundance flowed in this land. Because many people had everything they needed, people were busy at indulging their own self-pleasures. They didn’t use their abundance of resources and wisdom to help and strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. Instead they were prideful, critical, and snubbed their noses at those that needed help. God saw this as an abomination.
The only way to protect yourself from becoming too focused on your own needs, or becoming apathetic toward the needs of others, is to live your life daily with a sense of compassion—purposing to be a light and touch of God’s love as the Lord leads you. If you live like this, it won’t matter what your financial condition is. You will be a blessing to those around you. Having a spirit of compassion and a caring heart, will turn on the awareness switch within you that helps you see the hands of those that need strengthening. Will you suddenly become swamped and overwhelmed with the needs of people around you? No because God uses many people to be a grace and help to those in need, not just you. You are not anyone's savior and you can't help the whole world. But don't let that mentality become an excuse for doing nothing! You can do something as God leads you. Do you have to stop and do something for every person that seems to have a need? The answer to that is in a scripture from the Message translation that says "...you do what you can, not what you can't. The heart regulates the hands."2 Corinthians 8:12 (MSG)
Helping people is not always giving money or counseling them or doing something that you don't have the time or physical capacity to do. It's more often, having a listening ear, a compassionate reply, praying a prayer of faith, or possibly some kind of action or good deed that you CAN do that actually does bring some immediate help. God's Word teaches us that as believers, we have "an anointing" which is God in you and working through you. That anointing lifts burdens and breaks yokes—the lies that lead to hopelessness and oppression. That anointing in you is the power of God working through you. It's supernatural and if you know and love Jesus, you are never without it. He'll help you as you step out. You'll be surprised how many people you can help and touch with Jesus' love when you open your heart to it.
