Monday: How Can I Help You?
Read Mark 10:46-52 and John 5:1-9. In both cases, Jesus asked questions. Why would He do that?
Notice, in both cases, that Jesus asked what they wanted, even though it was obvious what they wanted. And even if it weren’t, Jesus would have known what those needs were anyway.
Image © Rolf Jansson from GoodSalt.com
However, by asking these questions, Jesus showed the men respect. He showed that He was listening to them and by listening that He cared about what they were struggling with. In how many cases do people, perhaps more than anything else, simply want someone just to talk to, someone who will listen to them. Sometimes just being able to talk about one’s struggles can help a person feel better.
Consider for a moment how you would feel if you entered a doctor’s office and the doctor took one glance at you, wrote out a prescription, and sent you on your way. Surely you would doubt whether this person really knew what you needed. You might say, “The doctor didn’t ask me how I feel or listen to my heart or check my blood pressure or . . .” One of the cardinal rules of medical practice is “Diagnose before you treat.”
The same concept applies to medical missionary work, which is focused on the well-being of people and meeting their wholistic needs. Too many churches think they already know, or they guess at what needs to be done to serve others in their community. When we put forth the effort of talking to people about their needs or the needs of the community, it lets them know we care, and it informs us how we can serve in ways that will be appreciated. Also, we will make new friends.
“ ‘Remember that you can break down the severest opposition by taking a personal interest in the people whom you meet. Christ took a personal interest in men and women while He lived on this earth. Wherever He went He was a medical missionary. We are to go about doing good, even as He did. We are instructed to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and comfort the sorrowing.’ ” – Ellen G. White,Welfare Ministry, p. 162.
| Most of us have no problem expressing our opinions. How can we learn to be better listeners? |
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Bartimaeus followed Jesus after he was healed physically, Jesus met the other man after the healing (John 5:14) and told him "go and sin no more". The perfect example, emotional, physical and then spiritual.
Hi good day. Truly Jesus was the world greatest helper. Now all Jesus ask is to do like wise, as we endeavor to serve in our communities, Let us caption our daily and ctivities with that well deserving question, how can I Help?
We can't do the task by our self, as we Esteem Christ in our lives His Grace and Mercies will enable us to do our duty.
Thanks for these beautiful lesson....
Jesus used so many methods to reach people
Sometimes He asked for a favor from the woman at the well or as in the lesson offered His service
It's important to relate to others in order to gain their confidence otherwise they won't be comfortable in our presence
A listening ear, a soft touch ,a prayer and appropriate help can be our ministry to them
May God help us to be like Jesus
The question is - "Most of us have no problem expressing our opinions. How can we learn to be better listeners?"
I have some suggestions.
1. I think we should listen with our hearts and not only our ears. There are folks who are not able to express themselves well with words but their body language tells it all. Sometimes we need to read well between the lines or ask the person to verify what they are saying.
2. Do not be distracted by yourself. Oftentimes people ask me how I am and even before I am finished answering, they end up telling about themselves and their woes. Keep focus. Its about the other person not about you.
3. Be attentive/present. Establish good eye contact. Let the person see that you truly care.
4. In some cultures, to say "how are you"? is just a mere greeting. I think we should practice asking only if we are genuinely concerned about the other person.
5. Seek God's guidance in the matter, asking Him for that fruit of the Spirit.
I hope this is helpful. God bless.
When life was really, really hard, I hated to be asked "how are you?". I could either tell the truth and know they really didn't want to hear, or I could say "fine" - the expected answer, and lie because I wasn't fine. So out of that came two things - my friend taught me to say "good to see you" instead of asking the question that really means "hello" in our culture and I learned to say "can't complain" because I need to be thanking God for everything, even the hard times. He doesn't want me to suffer, but out of this I may just get more character development and we are to thank Him for everything.
That's my biggest issue!
I do community assessments instead of individually doing them
Two limelights have been made obvious in this lesson: our approch to the needy with a sincere desire to know their needs and the second is our approach to God in prayer. And that resounding question He has never left His lips '' what do you want me to do for you'' But the problem has always been our response which are either myopic or not specific or are materialistic/self-centered. May God enable us to know what really are our needs. Though blind Bartimaeus needed sight, Christ also saw and of course provided another need of his which was the forgiveness of his sins.
I have a lot of friends from my academic activities who are atheists and who would not even listen if I started quoting Bible texts in our conversations. Atheists are real people though and have the same sorts of problems as Christians. I recall the many discussions that I had with one of my atheist colleagues who had relationship problems. Most of the discussion was listening to him recounting his problems and sympathizing with him. The small amount of talking I did was about the power of forgiveness - a deeply spiritual topic - that was both appropriate and applicable in my colleagues situation.
The point is that we can often help those with no religious experience providing we have a listening ear and know how to describe a spiritual idea in a form that they can understand. May atheists are receptive to deeply spiritual ideas providing they are not dressed up in religious clothes.
Not everyone is receptive to "Jesus talk" but they are willing to listen to spiritual ideas that are relevant to them.
The incident in Mark 10: 46 - 52 clearly demonstrates that Jesus is always willing and able to listen to the cries of His beloved children. He was on His last and extremely vital journey to Jerusalem and to Calvary there to die for the sins of the world. As He leaves Jerusalem Jesus a cry of a destitute man for mercy.
Can you hear in the cry a deep and urgent sense of need? Even though people in the crowd tried to keep Bartimaeus groping in darkness and unheard, Bartimeaus was undeterred. Christ stopped, raised that hand of authority and instructed, "Call him." As he comes and falls at the feet of Jesus, the Master asks him a practical as well as personal question: "what do YOU want ME to DO for YOU?" The ministry of Jesus was a personal one. As followers of Jesus we too need to close to people, never to distant to hear their cries and be willing to throw our arms around those who are hungry, lonely, burdened, weak, hurting, depressed and rejected by society. This question of Jesus was meant to elicit faith from Bartimeaus.
There are a number of lessons for us to learn as we continue to labour in His vineyard. They include the following:-
(1) Behind the cry of a sinner is always a deep sense of emptiness, of impotence, of the dire need for help and hunger for spiritual fulfilment. As Jesus always stops for a cry for mercy from a sinner, we too must have sensitive ears to hear the cries and stop to help.
(2) We need to be prepared to stop our fancy and important programs to heed the cry of the needy.
(3) In the community in which the church exists, we must listen to what the people in need are crying for and not presume to know what they need.
(4) Our attitude must always be : how can I help you?
(5) Our role is to guide people to Jesus with a message of hope and say, "Take courage; get up, He's calling you."
Like that Ashton, Lifting up Jesus is not only quoting versus our interaction with fellow neighbors is the truest sense of discipleship. Many might think they dont need Jesus, but everyone need a listening ear, and that alone can lead them to Jesus
Christ is the perfect minister to the peoples needs. He listens not with his ears but with his whole heart. I want to be more like him. I want to listen with His heart and see with His eyes. I want to be in tune with the true cares of his kingdom. Everyday i put my own priorities ahead of his sons and daughters. His manner with people is so gracious and respectful at all times. When people are needy He is not proud and condescending, expecting them to be or know more than they do. When people are acting wrongly, generally does not chastise them but gently redirects them to consider their own conduct, allowing them to save face.
I am blown away with the way Jesus handles those stoning the adulterous woman. He is so kind to those with the stones. He really lets his grace, forgiveness and kindness rain down on all the sinners, not just those aware of their sins.
I pray that He teaches me to be loving and foremost kind. To all I come into contact with - rather than selecting those who i choose to be loving and kind to.