GIFT OF HELPS

The Book of 1 Corinthians 12 gives this partial list of gifts for the Body of Christ: “ Now you are the body of Christ and members individually. God has put these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, and various tongues.”  (12:27-28)

The only place in the New Testament the term ‘helps’ is listed as a gift is here in I Corinthians 12:28. I have heard a lot of talk, read a lot of stuff on the desire of brothers and sisters to be apostles, prophets, healers and miracle workers and such… but I can’t recall anyone saying they wanted to be in a ministry of Helps.

Help means:’ make it easier for (someone) to do something by offering one’s services or resources, or to make it possible or easier for someone to do something.’ In the Body of Christ it might be a practical help but I think it is a far stronger term and intention. It is those people with ‘the unique ability to identify those who are struggling with doubt, fears, and other spiritual battles.’ They desire to help them.

Paul, an apostle, mentions a family like this in 1 Corinthians 16:15-16: “Do you remember Stephanas and his family? They were the first to become Christians in Greece, and they are spending their lives helping and serving Christians everywhere. Please follow their instructions and do everything you can to help them as well as all others like them who work hard at your side with such real devotion.”

This is what I have learned about the gift of Helps: If you need to ask someone to help, that is usually not his or her gift. They help without any prompting except from the Holy Spirit. They just Help.

“Anyone who is not for me is against me; if he isn’t helping me, he is hurting my cause.” Jesus