Helpers Stay Humble
Isn't it too often that when we help others, we so earnestly want to get recognition and instant extra credit from our peers? It may be a natural response, but is it the humble response? Let's find out what history can show us about these things.
An extremely humbling lesson that can easily go unnoticed is in the story of King Uzziah. It is something the Bible mentions very briefly regarding the grand scale of assistance that this great king of Judah received. Yet there is much to learn from it.
"In Jerusalem he made machines designed by skillful men for use on the towers and on the corner defenses to shoot arrows and hurl large stones. His fame spread far and wide, for he was greatly helped until he became powerful." (2 Chronicles 26:15)
Who "greatly helped" the king? Mostly people who are now completely nameless to us. They don't go down in history as elevated heroes of old. Their name remains a lowly, humble, unknown entity. There's no elevated grandeur associated with them. These hard working and gifted helpers have become a mere footnote of ancient times. That is humbling. Today, God only knows what they did and who they are, and that's about it.
Notice that right after this in the Bible, King Uzziah "became powerful, his pride led to his downfall. He was unfaithful to the LORD..." (2 Chronicles 26:16). The king became prideful about all the humble help he received. That is not the right response. Pride and lack of gratitude go hand in hand. It led to unfaithfulness and a very sad "downfall."
How does that relate to us now? Think deeply about two things:
- All the help you have received from others over your lifetime.
- All the help you have given to others in your lifetime.
If you are like most people, much of the help in both categories has been either thankless, or not thanked enough. That should humble us, and make us all the more grateful. And that is exactly where God wants us.
Now think about your level of helpfulness to others. Are you looking for credit and great recognition? That might be pride. Or are you simply being helpful because that is the righteous and humble and kind thing to do?
Let's all help others for the right reasons: out of concern for our fellow man, woman, and child. In this way, we become the humble helpers who please God.
Therefore, for all the helpers out there, I say thank you. Stay humble, and helpful.
Thank you for sharing this. It is such a good exercise in gratitude to take the time to stop & think of all the ways people have helped me over the years. I have been very blessed by their humble help and my life has benefitted. Time to pay it forward and help others. Well said, well done post!
nice religion, beautiful life, good post, thanks for sharing following up voted
I agree. Make sure you promote my comments here because I want some recognition for them. Just kidding! :) Have a blessed 2018, and keep on writing articles like these...
Thanks for the humor and encouragement!
the strongest people make time to help others,
even if they're struggling with their own demons...
helping other's is the way to help ourselves....
Helping each other is so important in the body of christ...God bliss you for what you posted...
very nice :)
one must help everyone from the heart :)
Attitude of gratitude!
This.
When I hear of war casualties, thousands of victims. For most of us, these men, women and children are numbers. We don't know them by name, we don't remember them soon afterwards. We never knew them.
Yet He knows us all by name. The statistics of men are names for God. Real persons, stories. He knows us better than we know ourselves!
Your post is truly great and it reminded me a verse from Matthew. I'll only share this with no commentary because I think there is no need for commentary. It says what you describe here perfectly.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and insights on this very important subject!