Strength is for service, not status. Each one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, “How can I help?” Romans 15:1–2 (MSG)
The slogan around the world during the 2020 pandemic was, “We are in this together.” But this motto is nothing new to believers. In fact, God’s Word reminds us over and over to be there for each other in trying times (Romans 12:15, Galatians 6:2).
Just like we appreciate and often cling to other people’s encouraging words, helping hands or timely hugs when we’re in the middle of a crisis, it’s important to come alongside someone else when they’re in one, too.
Life is not just about walking through our own valley experiences. There are times we need to step into other people’s valleys and help them through theirs as well. It reminds me of the Navy SEALs. When the Americans prepare their Special Forces teams, they don’t instruct them on how to sit around and enjoy their personal lives. The military trains them to get involved in someone else’s crisis and help them out. They are deployed into the worst situations—either to extract someone from danger or help take out whatever is causing the problem and bring it to an end.
It’s a good picture of the church of Jesus Christ. God designed us to look out not just for ourselves, “but also for the interests of others” (Philippians 2:4, NKJV).
However, it’s harder to assist others if we’re focused on staying in our comfort zones. Using our lives to serve God means being unafraid to stop coasting comfortably. It means jumping in to encourage and walk along the more challenging path with others.
As believers, we are in this together. Who can you help today?
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