helping others | considering the word

In Jeremiah 38, we find Jeremiah cast into a dungeon, meaning he had to be lowered down with ropes; and the Bible says there was no water, but mire, and Jeremiah sank in the mire. Jeremiah is in a bad situation.

Someone found out about this. He was a eunuch in the king’s house, named Ebed-Melech. We’ll just call him Eb, for short.

Jeremiah was a prophet, which means he normally had some respect, but right now he is sinking in mire, in a place where he had to literally be lowered down with ropes. Yikes! Not much respect here. Eb goes to the king and says, “My lord the king, these men have done evil..to Jeremiah the prophet, whom they have cast into the dungeon, and he is likely to die from hunger in the place where he is. For there is no bread in the city.”

The king commands Eb to take 30 men with him to go lift Jeremiah out of the dungeon before he could die. So, the men got some old rags and clothes and lowered them down into the dungeon on some ropes and told Jeremiah to put them under his armpits, under the ropes, and then they pulled him up, and hopefully fed the man and let him get cleaned up a little. (I don’t know…it doesn’t say that part)

There are people in our lives right now that feel as though they are sinking the mire. Are we taking the time out of our lives to send down the ropes and pull them out? It’s ok if we need to get some others to go with us. Eb took 30 men with him. If you’re too insecure or uncertain to do it alone call for back up! But never leave someone sinking if you know they’re there. Pull them out before they can die…emotionally, spiritually, or physically.

I also love the care they took with Jeremiah. They considered his weakened state and sent down some old rags and clothes for him to put under his armpits before having him put the ropes under his arms before they pulled him back up. When we are helping people, it’s ok to take a little extra care and not always assume “tough love” is the immediate best plan.

There are also people around us who need to be literally fed or given some water. Perhaps you can help with that. If so, please do. Maybe you don’t have all the resources, but like Eb, you know someone who does. Talk to them. See if they can help, and maybe you can even pitch in and help like ol’ Eb did. Don’t just watch someone suffer and do nothing. Pr. 3:27 says, “Whenever you possibly can, do good to those who need it.”

Thanks for these great reminders today Eb! You were a stand up guy!

Look for someone around you that may need some help today,

jamie

I’m reading the conversations between Job and his friends right now in the book of Job. It’s so uncomfortable for me because I have scars from comments people have made to me during my own health issues the last few years…even while I was down at the altar seeking God’s face.

Job asked his friends why they were tormenting him with their accusations and insults. I know Job was a man, but I have to wonder if he cried because of what they said? I usually just cry. ha!

I’m not sure what it is about health issues or major trials that opens up the doorway to make others think they should step in and offer up judgment instead of encouragement, but it’s sad. When someone is going through pain and trials, the last thing they need is added pain.

Sickness in someone’s life does not automatically mean they’ve sinned or haven’t asked, in faith, to be healed. Trials in someone’s life does not mean they have not been generous to the poor or have angered God.

What do those in pain or those in the midst of a trial need? They need love. They need compassion. They need an ear to listen. They need prayer. If you know specifically of sin in their life, you can offer help, but if you don’t, then don’t accuse. People who are hurting need comfort. They need a friend.

Take them a meal. Babysit their kids or pay for someone else to do it. Pay for someone to clean their house for them. Go sit with them when they can’t get out of bed. Pray with them. Give them a hug. Wash their car. Offer to do something else you know will bless them. Do something to bless them, but don’t add to their pain.

I am so blessed by Job. He did curse the day he was born…that’s understandable, since he was in immense pain…but he was never so discouraged that he allowed his friends to turn mind away from trusting God.

For any Christian in pain, that’s critical. We can’t turn our hearts away from trusting in God. As Christians, we cannot be the ones to cause pain. Our lives are supposed to represent God’s love. If God’s love looks like judgment and accusations, especially in a trial or painful time in someone’s life, it will make it so hard for them to trust in Him.

As Christians, it is imperative that we operate in love, encouragement, and in prayer. Jesus said we should love the Lord our God with all our heart all our soul all our strength and all our mind; and we should love our neighbor as ourselves. What if you were the one in pain? What would you want to hear? What if you were in that trial? What would you need?

We must go and do likewise,

jamie