NEEDING HELP

There are occasions when we all need someone to help solve a problem we can’t seem to solve ourselves. Usually it takes the perspective of another to get things into focus so we can make a better decision. Often it is simply a matter of breaking it down, putting it into bite size pieces, and helping us ‘to get a handle on it’.

Unfortunately, few of us seek, or even desire the help of another. It is almost un-American and almost certainly un-Christian to need help with anything from anybody. Our built-in pride, self-adequacy, and stubborn independence don’t allow for such things. To help others is always easy, but to need or seek help is always hard. Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Indeed it is.

Someone comes along and says, “Do you need help?” We might ask, “How do other people know that I need help?” Others see our need because it shows on us. Our brows furrow, our eyes sink back into our heads, dark puffy bags form under our eyes, our hands shake, we sigh a lot, cry a lot, gripe a lot, and generally look and act pretty used up all the way around. We stay home, stay hidden, stay out, stay in, and stay away; but the obvious is still there: We need somebody to help us.

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.” Jesus