The Gift Of Helping Others

Feature 3 – December 2012 — Grace & Truth Magazine

The Gift Of HELPING Others

“In the Church God has appointed ... those able to help others.” — 1 Corinthians 12:28 NIV

My wife and I have volunteered in church food pantries for the past seven years. We enjoy the work because it gives us an opportunity to help those in need of food. The work itself is repetitious and tiring – we sort canned foods and prepare boxes of food for distribution. But the time working together with others, who also desire to help families hit by hard economic times, makes it all worthwhile.

I am impressed with our co-workers. While some volunteer only once a week, others devote untold hours to make sure everything is ready to provide food for over 100 families each week. Some spend hours traveling around the city collecting food from businesses also willing to help. Others keep the pantry neat, clean and in order – all quietly behind the scenes because they love helping others.

And this is just in a church food pantry. What about those who help in Sunday School, not just by teaching but also by registering kids and cleaning up? How many help by setting up chairs for meetings and then putting them away afterwards? What about those who help with fellowship meals? What about all the many helpers needed for Vacation Bible School? What about those who care for the church building and grounds? These are just a few of the needs for helpers.

The list of ways to exercise your gift of helps is as long as the many needs you see around you. Read Romans 16:1-15 carefully and count all the helpers Paul mentioned by name. How many of them had the gift of helps? He began by calling attention to Phoebe “a servant of the church ... for she has been a great help to many, including me.” This can also be said of the others mentioned. Can it be said of you? Would you like it to? If so, find someone to help today. And keep at it.

By Larry Ondrejack