One of the easiest things in the world for some people to do is to stop caring about other people.
“Everyone has problems, everyone goes through some form of pain, sorrow, troubles, and everyone is going to die someday anyway, so just get on with your own life, live it the way that you want to, and leave them to their own fate.”
“And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Gen. 4:9)
I don’t know, are you?
How much of other people’s lives do you believe you should interject yourself into? Should you wait for them to start speaking to you about their desires, their wants and needs? Or should you ask certain questions of them, deeply personal questions that cut to the quick of their possible problems?
And when should you do that, after you have known them for a while, become somewhat of a friend, or at least a fairly close confidant?
I could be mistaken here, but as far as I can recall, the Lord Jesus Christ only twice went to help someone without their asking Him to first. When He raised Lazarus from the dead, and when He crossed the sea to help the men of the Gadarenes. Every other time those people in need came to Him.
I spoke with a pastor a while back about this subject briefly and had to stop the conversation when I realized that he was seeing the truth of what I was offering and did not want to admit it to himself. Almost all the people that came to him privately to discuss their problems had problems that, in no offensive way to the measure of faith they possessed, they should have quite easily been able to handle themselves.
“But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.” (Matt. 9:36)
If you are going to care about people, there are two things that must occur, and most generally they will need to happen in this order. You must speak to them, and you must listen, intently, when they reply back to you. Very rarely is someone you meet going to initiate a conversation with you about their personal life, and that should be expected by you.
If those who sit in the pews every Sunday morning will not fulfill this verse openly to the congregation of, hopefully, believers, disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, then do not expect those you just met to do the same.
“Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” (James 5:16)
Personal faults in the service of the Lord are not the same as troubles or problems, but they really are not that different when it comes to opening up to someone. And there are two facts that you must realize in any of these instances.
They will feel “less than” in their mind if they do so, and they believe that whatever it is, it can be used against them in some way.
There is an old saying that fits perfectly here. “People do not care what you think, unless they think you care.”
We who are hid in Christ are not under the Law, but there is a law that we should willingly follow, with everyone we meet.
“And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” (Matt. 22:39)
When you are searching for someone to help you with your problems, I would hope that you would first go to your Father in heaven. But pay close attention, for He may send someone to you.
And you may be the person that He sends to help someone as well.
