2 Corinthians 8 Lesson

HELPING OTHERS

Our focus scripture for today’s lesson is taken from Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians:

• “He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little had no lack.” – 2 Corinthians 8:15.

In other words, if you have been blessed abundantly, look for opportunities to help those less fortunate.  

Conversely, if you are in need, be willing to accept help from those who are able to offer it.

That is the way that God wants His children to live their lives. He wants us to help each other.

Helping others is a huge part of being a Christian, and something that anybody can do.  

All that it requires is a tender heart and some situational awareness.  Instead of judging those in pain, we need to retrain our brains to be compassionate and look for ways to help them. 

Jesus said:

• “I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, that you also love one another.  By this all people will know that you are My disciples: if you have love for one another.” – John 13:34.

If we take the time to get to know people, we will discover all kinds of ways to help them.  And when we do that, they will see the love of God working in us, and God will be glorified!

In today’s world, too many of us have gotten caught up in our own lives that we do not take the time to slow things down and get to know one another. 

That is not the way that God wants us to live! 

He wants us to be involved in each other’s lives so that we know when somebody is hurting, or in need, and we can help them. 

Consider the following words spoken by Jesus, as recorded in the Gospel of Mathew:  

• “But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne.  All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left.  Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’ Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink?  And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You?  When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’” – Mathew 25:31-40.

In the above scripture, Jesus lists five things that we can do to help others:

1. Feeding the hungry and providing drinks to the thirsty,
2. Inviting strangers into our homes,
3. Giving clothes to those in need,
4. Visiting the sick,
5. Visiting those in prison. 

It is clear from Jesus’ words, that God wants us to help each other. This is by no means a comprehensive list. If we open our hearts, ears, and eyes, we will find all kinds of ways to serve others and help them.

LOVING OUR NEIGHBOR

In today’s high-tech world, interaction with others seems to happen less and less and people are becoming increasingly isolated.  

While this may be common practice in the world, it should never be common practice among Christians.  

Loving our neighbors is second in importance only to loving God.   When Jesus was asked what is the greatest commandment, He replied:

• “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” – Mathew 22:36-40.

CONCLUSION

God wants us to help others, and he wants us to allow others to help us. 

There are many scriptures in the Bible that speak about the importance of helping others. Clearly, this is a priority for God.

We will end today’s lesson by highlighting the following seven verses:

1. “And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” - Hebrews 13:16, 
2. “Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.” - Philippians 2:4, 
3. “Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.” - Galatians 6:2, 
4. “Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.” - Luke 6:38, 
5. “One who is gracious to a poor person lends to the Lord, and He will repay him for his good deed.” - Proverbs 19:17, 
6. “But whoever has worldly goods and sees his brother or sister in need, and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God remain in him?” - 1 John 3:17,  
7. “In everything, I showed you that by working hard in this way you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” - Acts 20:35.