I am one of those people who has a hard time asking for help. I don’t want to inconvenience other people or be any kind of a burden to them. So, I try to do a lot of things on my own… Yesterday, I was studying humility and thinking of the passage in Philippians that talks about putting the interests of others above my own (“Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.” – Ph. 2:4).
Last week, in the craziness of trying to get the house ready to be moved into, a dear sister in Christ asked if there was anything she could do to help out. I told her that I would be painting in the evening and she said that she would be there to help (this is a friend who is well aware of my hesitance in “inconveniencing” people). Earlier in the day, before she was to come over to help, she emailed me and said that she would bring dinner with her when she came. I told her that I had already planned to make something and that she didn’t have to bring dinner – after all, she was the one coming to help me. Shouldn’t I be the one feeding her? She insisted, however, and said that I could save my planned meal for another night. This was something that she really wanted to do for us. Based on her persistance, I thanked her for her offer and she brought the dinner. When she arrived at the house, I told her how big of a help it was that she had brought the meal. Her response to me was, “Thanks for letting me do it!”.
And that got me to thinking… If I am not willing to accept the offers of help that are given to me, I am actually taking away the opportunity for my brothers and sisters in Christ to do the one anothers as they are commanded to (“And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,” -Heb 10:24). In my selfishishness of not wanting to seem a burden, I am actually taking away an opportunity for them to do good to others as God tells us to (“Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.” – Gal. 6:10). I am also showing my pridefulness in saying that I think I can do it all. So, if someone has the desire and opportunity to do good for me, I should be humble enough…and putting their interests above my own pride enough… to accept with thankfulness their offer. And in doing so, I can give them the joy of being obedient to the Lord’s command as He uses them for good in my life.
Of course, I need to not go to the opposite extreme of EXPECTING others to serve me – which would be another form of pride and selfishness. But I thought it really interesting to see how not allowing anyone to help is actually selfish and prideful on my part.
Thank God for His promise to give wisdom in all things!
