“And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward.” --Matthew 10:42

Have you ever found it difficult to ask others for help? Why is it so hard for us to admit we need help? It’s simple. Most of us have never had to depend on anyone else. We’ve always had life completely under control and we’ve been the ones helping others, right? We didn’t think we’d ever be incapable of handling things on our own. But that’s not reality. We hesitate before taking that first step to ask for help.

People need each other—especially Christians. It makes sense that God included “helping” in the list of gifts found in 1 Corinthians 12:28. There is a difference between offering help and making help available. Some people offer help and are genuinely anxious to give it. Others seem to make help available, but actually have no plans of following through with their offer.

Some people seem to be born with the gift to reach out and help others, and the rest have a lot to learn about offering help. Once you see God working through the kind of person who has the innate ability to easily help others, you’ll want be that kind of person as well. You don’t necessarily have to have the gift of helping others to be blessed by it. People all around us have setbacks, and they depend on the goodness of others to meet their daily needs.

When offering help to others be honest, specific, personal, a good listener, sensitive to their needs, faithful, and be sure to follow up. The Bible teaches specifically how to be a friend and helper to those who need it. Times may change. The culture is going to change. And even people may change—but more often than not their needs don’t. Make a choice to help someone in need today.

PRAYER CHALLENGE: Ask God to reveal to you someone who needs your help.