Helping or Hurting

We have many areas of our lives where we can make a difference. Usually they fall into the categories of our relationship with God and with others, our finances, our health, our careers or school and how we help others. In each area of our lives we do have the opportunities to help others. Whatever action we take or words we say can help or can hurt the situation. We need to think about these areas an what we are doing or saying that is helping or hurting.

First and foremost, we have to have the right relationship with God. When we talk to Him only in passing if we need something or when we think about Him, we don’t really have the opportunity to help others in the way God wants us to. Our actions and words should be His actions and words. Others should be able to see Jesus in us. For this to happen, we have to make an intentional effort to spend time with Him daily.

In our relationships with others, we have the ability to help or hurt the relationship. Our words and actions make a difference when we are talking or listening to someone. When we are busy thinking about ourselves and someone needs our help, we can’t really help them as God wants us to. We should take the focus off of us and really show we want to help them. We need to ask ourselves if there are any relationships that are hurting, where we need to allow God to step in and take over.

We all know about how much money we make, but do we really know how we spend it? Does God get the first portion of our money? We can help or hurt situations by how we give our money to others so that God can use it for His glory. Our actions and words about our finances set an example to others how they should handle their finances. God gives us all we have and we need to use it for His will to be done.

How we care for our bodies definitely has an impact on helping or hurting a situation. If we don’t take care of our bodies, we can’t always be there when others need us. By putting the right foods in our bodies, keeping fit and getting regular checkups, we can stayed tuned up so we are able to help others and so we can make a difference. Encouraging others to stay fit will help them to know the importance of taking care of their bodies as well.

While we are at work or school, we need to stay on task and focused on what we are to do. Our actions and words at work should be positive and helpful. Doing what is required of us on the job or in class helps us to grow and learn and keeps others from being distracted. When we decide to get things done now, we will have time later to do other things. We can hurt or help situations at work or school by thinking about what we say and do and if it is really relevant to what we are trying to accomplish.

When we are involved in any situation, good or bad, we should ask ourselves if we are hurting or helping the situation. We need to be mindful of the situation, who is involved and what we are doing or not doing to make the situation better. The actions we take and the words we say need to be planned out rather than blurted out.

When we help others, we are also helping ourselves and we please God. When we hurt others, we are only hurting ourselves and bringing sorrow to God. Ask God to work through you so you can always be helpful to others in any situation. We need to spend our lives helping rather than hurting and only God can make that happen. Ask Him to make you aware of all situations and how you are helping and not hurting.

Ephesians 4:28-32 “Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need. Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.”