Real Help

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/110314.cfm) reminds me what real helping is all about.

There is a sad reality in the world – that there are very few people who really do help for the sake of helping. We see a lot of people, politicians and the like, helping others on national television. However, many of these are not genuine. They want something in return. They want media exposure, they want marginalized votes on election, or they want others to owe them something so they can collect favors when the time comes. This is what Jesus wants us to avoid in the gospel:

“When you hold a lunch or a dinner,
do not invite your friends or your brothers or sisters
or your relatives or your wealthy neighbors,
in case they may invite you back and you have repayment.
Rather, when you hold a banquet,
invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind;
blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you.
For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

This is real helping. Not expecting anything in return from the people you help. A man I look up to once said that you help simply because you want to help. There should be no expectations that the person will be good to you after you help, and even a simple thank you from the person should not be necessary. You help because you want to help. You help out of the goodness and graces of God in your life.

Real helping is an investment, wherein God will be the one to repay you.

God is a fair God. He rewards us for what we do – be it good or bad. And as we help others, we will also be rewarded for it. God sees the intention of our hearts. IF we want worldly rewards from those who help us, we will get that. We will be acknowledged, we will get favors, and that’s it. However, if God sees that we really like to help others and do not expect anything in return,  God will be the one to repay us and bless us, not just because we help others, but because He wants us to continue to help others with his blessings.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another chance to love and experience your love and blessings. Lord, I thank you for all my blessings. And I promise to help others through them. May I always be ready and willing to share your blessings with others, and as I do so, may I expect nothing in return, for I am only sharing what I got from you. Let your blessings flow through me. Amen.

Blessed week!

In Christ,

-g-