Tuesday Truth: Thank the Lord for the Gift of Support

Have you ever said to someone close to you, “I really need your support right now”? If you have, it’s because we all desperately need the support of others in our lives—that’s what the Body of Christ is about, each one supplying what someone else has need of.

There are many ways to support a friend—through finances; by working alongside them; through encouraging words; in prayer; by just “being there.” No one was a better support to those He cared about than Jesus. He made himself available even when it drained him of his physical energy to do so. He traveled many miles to pray for the sick. He didn’t take people for granted but was always looking for ways to improve their lives.

I was realizing today just how many people my family and me have who support us—in so many ways. Without support, where would any of us be? Friends and family who love us shine the brightest in hard times—in times when the most support is needed.

So what does Biblical, love-based support look like?

·         Give Whatever You Can

1 John 3:16-18
“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.”

Support through action demonstrates not only our love for our brothers and sisters but our love for God as well.

• Think Other-Centeredly Instead of Self-Centeredly

Romans 12:10
“Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.” Pretty self-explanatory.

• Choose Compassion Over Judgment

1 Peter 3:8
“Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.”

I think of “compassion” as being in direct contrast to “judgment,” or condemnation. Something I read in my Bible study notes this week really made me stop to evaluate my heart: “Do you know you do not deserve God’s mercy? Then how can you withhold mercy from another? Do you cling to your rights and refuse to forgive one person who has hurt you greatly? How often do you refuse to help or even pity someone because their own sin caused their problem? Will you ask God to give you His heart and His mind in these matters?” Remember “blessed are the merciful, for they will obtain mercy” (Matthew 5, Sermon on the Mount)? Sometimes the support someone needs is a heart full of compassion, in spite of the details.

• Invest in People Without Skimping

2 Corinthians 9:6
“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.”

My daughter, Kristiana, and son-in-law, Nathan, are wonderful examples of this truth—they are constantly looking for opportunities to bless others and be salt and light in people’s lives. And I’ve seen how God continues to bless them for valuing others as He does.

• Accept Others Right Where They’re At

Romans 15:7
“Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.”

God is glorified when our support of others includes our unconditional acceptance of them—the way Jesus loves us—“warts and all,” as I’ve heard it said. We may not always understand everything a loved one does—or even why he or she values certain things—but we are called to accept, which means to receive with approval or favor.

The emotional support of knowing you are accepted by someone can be life-changing because it says ‘this person isn’t put off by my imperfections; I have a safe place in his or her heart.’

• Be Ready to Labor

 Ecclesiastes 4:9

“Two [are] better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.”

I think it’s important to quote the second part of that thought as well, to give a clearer picture. “If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!” -Ecclesiastes 4:10.

We all fall down sometimes. But how awful it is when no one is there for support—how lonely, discouraging, and even hopeless that can feel. Yes, our hope is in the Lord, but He has given us each other because we need each other. I believe that when the Bible says in Hebrews 10:25 to “not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near,” we need to pay close attention in that verse to the word encourage in that verse. Without encouragement, people lose courage to face trials, hardships, decisions, and the like. Encouraging support is a must, and it’s something Jesus has equipped us for and called us to.

I called someone who loves me tonight, not to talk about needs but to ask a question—but because of her compassion for me and discernment from the Lord, she sensed something was up and asked me, “How are you? You don’t sound too good.” That led us into a short discussion that resulted in her praying for me and hanging up the phone with a smile on my face. Thank the Lord for His all-knowing wisdom in creating a need in each human heart for the support of others. I am blessed tonight to have been on the receiving end and look forward to my next opportunity to support someone else.