helping

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Genesis 40:23 Forgetting Those Who Helped

The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him. Genesis 40:23

Nearly every time something is extremely important to a person, he will remember it. People will often do what it takes to remember something important, leaving notes, setting alarms, etc.

Other times there are things that are not considered to be very important. Many get caught up in the moment, forgetting what was needed. The one who is supposed to remember will forget it, often at the detriment of other people.

Sometimes this forgetting can be a sign of selfishness, looking only to one’s own self’s interests and forgetting others.

Joseph had correctly interpreted a dream the cupbearer had. He had asked the cupbearer to remember him in prison. The cupbearer forgot about Joseph when his dream came true.

No one makes it completely through this life without the help of someone else. Nearly all the time every person needs at least some help from someone else. At times that help is extremely urgent.

The first thing a person should do when receiving help is giving thanks. The next thing one should do is return the help if possible and it is needed.

Although it does take some time and effort to return some help, it can show respect, gratitude and the love of God.

Every believer starts with having been helped by Jesus to remove his sins and give life. With this new life, he also begins to remember Jesus and pay it forward the help he had received.

No person will ever be able to give the amount of help Jesus did, but everyone is able to help in some way. Instead of forgetting those who have helped, one should remember them and seek to find ways to help them back.

Think about all of the ways different people have helped you in your past. Think about how much Jesus has helped you. Ask yourself if you have forgotten how those people have helped you.

Do not allow yourself to take that help for granted and forget them. Ask them and ask God how you may be able to return the help. At a minimum you can bring them before God in prayer. Ask God to touch their lives, bless them and meet their needs.

As you do these things, God will open doors for you to return help to others as they need it. Don’t forget those who helped you.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will be grateful for and remember those who have helped you; that God will open your eyes to how you can help others; and that you will not forget all that God has done for you.

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2 Corinthians 9:2 How Eager Are You To Help Others?

For I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting about it to the Macedonians, telling them since last year you in Achaia were ready to give; and your enthusiasm has stirred most of them to action. 2 Corinthians 9:2

There are some people who are eager to help others out. They find a great joy when they are able to provide something someone else needs.

People will often notice those who are generous givers, some because they want something, others because they see the good being done. Seeing a great giver will also often encourage others to give in the same way.

As Paul continues to talk about giving, he commends the Corinthians for their great enthusiasm and readiness to help others out.

Giving is something that God started by giving mankind the earth and everything in it. Later He gives His Son, Jesus, to take away sins and to give eternal life. In both of these things, God is helping out mankind in areas of need.

The process of helping others out is God’s way of providing abundantly for everyone for everything that one needs. Every type of help is a type of giving. It can be giving of time, energy, effort, or of things, such as money, clothing, food, or anything else.

Most people are not eager to help others out, unless it is to their advantage. They want to hoard everything that they have, time, energy, money, thing, just in case they might need them.

The believer who realizes how God has helped him and what God has, will be quick and eager to help others out any time he sees and need, and has the ability to help. He will know and understand that God will provide for his own needs as he helps someone else out.

Over your life, how many times has someone else helped you out? How many times has God helped you out?

Instead of hoarding what God has given you, be eager to pass it on to help someone else out. As you help others out, God will in turn put others in your path to help you out.

Trust that God will provide abundantly for all that you need as you eagerly give of all that you have. As you eagerly help others, it will also stir others to the action of helping others out.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will know how God has already helped you; that God will strengthen you to help others in their times of need; and that you will trust God to provide for all that you need as you give to others.

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Matthew 20:26 How To Be Great

Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, Matthew 20:26

All over the world there are people who desire to be great. They want to be someone of great authority and power. It is often felt that the greater the authority or power a person has, the greater he is.

This power is sought out in many different ways, however, most often it is grabbed for or taken by force or deception. Rarely is great authority just given to a person because of who he is and how he acts.

Jesus had told the disciples that the Gentile rulers ruled with force, but that they are not to rule that way. To be great, one has to be a servant to others.

Looking at history, many of the greatest people were servants to others, to a point. They did something great to help other people out. Some of these people did it out of selfish reasons to become wealthy or powerful, but some did it out of genuine concern for people.

Believers, who have the right heart, will do everything out of concern for others and God. Everything Jesus did was to help others out, even His dying upon the cross. He came to serve, not be served, even though He had all authority, since He created everything.

To follow Jesus means one will be like Him. This means every believer must be willing to be a servant to others, putting the needs of others above their own personal wants, desires and needs.

This can only be done when one trusts God to meet all of his needs and desires. When this occurs, the believer becomes great. People will lift him up because he is building others up by serving them. God will lift him up, because he is being like Jesus and not selfish.

Every day you will have opportunities to serve someone else in some way. Instead of looking the other way or expecting someone else to meet that need, serve that person.

Rely up God’s strength and provision to meet your needs as you serve others. As you serve others, God can raise up other believers to serve you and meet your needs. In this way you will be more like Jesus and will be great in the kingdom of God. It will also be a great testimony of who God is and what He is like.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Savior; that you will have a heart to serve others as Jesus served others; that God will meet all of your needs; and that you will be great in God’s kingdom.

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Daniel 2:27-28a Not Taking Credit

Standing by a window

Daniel replied, “No wise man, enchanter, magician or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about, but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries. He has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in days to come. Daniel 2:27-28a 

The desire to have the right answer or have the ability to meet the need for others is great in most people. They want to be able to say that they can give what is needed out of their own abilities and strength.

Very few people like to admit that they do not have the right answer or lack the ability to do something. It makes them look weak and incompetent, so they will often make up something to try to meet the need, whether it is right or wrong.

The king had had a dream and wanted someone to tell him what the dream was and what it was about. If no one could do that, he would kill everyone. He was told about Daniel being able to do that. Daniel tells him that only God can give that answer.

In themselves, no believer really has the ability to do anything. Their power, strength and wisdom come from God.

The world will have questions to problems that they do not know how to answer or deal with. They are seeking answers, that only God can give. Some believers will give the answers in their own abilities or give the answer God has, and will take the credit for it, rather than give God the credit.

God has given His Holy Spirit to guide believers and give them wisdom. When a believer speaks, it should be with the wisdom and words of God, and then he needs to let the world know it is God’s word, not his own.

There will be times when someone needs help or guidance.  At these times seek God’s direction for that situation. God will guide you in what to say or do to help that person out. As you do this, do not take the credit for yourself. Give the credit to God for what He has allowed you to do.

Doing this points people towards God and takes the focus off of you. God is the only one who can give the perfect answer each and ever time. Allow God to work through you, but also give Him the credit. Without Him, you can do nothing.

I pray today that you will be filled with God’s Holy Spirit; that you will be guided by God’s Spirit; that you will give God credit for what He does trough you; and that you will allow God to use you to help others.