Grace and peace to you from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God every time I remember you.
In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy
because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now,
being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you
will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
– Philippians 1:2-6
A strong support base effectively absorbs the weight of the journey.
A missionary friend of mine was not allowed to go overseas until he had 100 daily prayer partners. That concept has always stuck with me because it was a powerful reminder of how much we truly need each other in our journeys through life. I am grateful for the 100 people who pray for our church daily.
The apostle Paul knew what a difference support makes. His connection included prayer and meeting practical needs. As he wrote to the Philippians, his overflowing joy was a result of their loyal support as he traveled around the world serving God. The senders and the people who travel are on the same team and have equal importance.
There are two extremes to avoid in the areas of giving and receiving. When we stubbornly resist accepting help, we try to block the work of God. On the other hand, when we fail to extend the resources that are life giving to other people, we may unknowingly be choosing selfishness over faith.
What kind of support have you received in your walk with God? Who has assisted you with some of your physical and emotional needs? What kind of support do you currently desire and offer? How will you invest your resources to meet the needs of other people?
God has made people to be interdependent in the same way that the human body depends on its different members (1 Corinthians 12:12-31). It is a fact that brains need hearts and muscles need veins. Your greatest fulfillment in life will come when you are giving and receiving support. Stinginess is like a straitjacket that limits potential. Stinginess is a garment that just does not look good on you or me.
Jesus said, “Freely you have received, freely give” (Matthew 10:8). If you know that changes and transitions can be difficult, then refrain from adding stubborn pride and fierce independence to the potent equation. A proud person declines the help they truly need. A truly strong person, on the other hand, adds to their strength by accepting helpful offers of support. Most people agree to this on paper, but living up to their conviction is more challenging.
What breaks down your resistance or reluctance to receive the help that you genuinely need?
Excerpt republished with permission from A New Season by Jesse Bradley c. 2013
Leave a Reply