Will you help?

Will you help?

Anthony Armstrong

Special to The Commercial

So why are you not helping anyone? There are many reasons why help is not given to those who are in need, but those reasons aren’t justifiable before a Holy and Loving God.

Take jealousy, for example. Jealousy is a very complex emotion encompassing a lot of feelings like suspicion and fear of humiliation. The root causes of jealousy are connected to a person’s inability to see what God has provided in their life.

There’s also a lack of thankfulness. For where envy and self-seeking exists, confusion and all evil things are there. No matter who you are in life we all need help at some point. God created us to be a keeper of each other on this journey called life.

The phrase “my brother’s keeper” is a reference to the Biblical story of Cain and Abel from Gen. 4:9. It is generally understood to mean being responsible for the welfare of a brother or other sibling or, by extension, for other human beings in general.

Cain, who is quoted as having made this statement, claimed not to have this responsibility.

“But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:12-13)

Jesus said, for whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother. If anyone throughout history could have done it by himself, it would have been Jesus the Christ Son of the Living God. Jesus could have completed His mission all alone.

Do you offer support without seeing social status, color, nationality, culture, and demographics? One of the most dividing questions is about race.

“Then Peter began to speak: ‘I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.'” (Acts 10:34-35)

There is only one race of people, so stop the craziness and understand God loves us all the same.

The minimum categories for data on race and ethnicity for federal statistics, program administrative reporting, and civil rights compliance reporting are defined by the United States Office of Management and Budget (OMB) as follows: American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, and White.

If we could only see people just as God only sees people, we would see that we are all God’s children.

“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” (Eph. 4:2-4)

Look to God for the strength, knowledge, understanding and abilities to apply wisdom on this journey called life. Stop looking back on life’s short comings, revisiting hurt which causes us sometimes to relive or react in a manner to lose our peace, joy, and willingness to help and/or support others.

There is always someone who needs encouragement and support. Oftentimes, just being a listening ear is so important. It is needed for everyone to express themselves in a safe place with someone.

“Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” (James 5:16)

Some people feel powerless but that’s not the case at all because God has given everyone grace, skills, and talents. We all have different God-given gifts, but we’ve got to use grace and mercy that’s being given for kingdom building, which is people building showing the love of God.

“I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes, and you clothed me…” (Matt. 25:35-40 NIV)

Anthony Armstrong is senior pastor at Unity Christian Fellowship Church at Pine Bluff.

Editor’s note: Pastors, ministers or other writers interested in writing for this section may submit articles for consideration to shope@pbcommercial.com. Please include your phone number and the name and location of your church or ministry.