“And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.” Matthew 5:41
Helping others is both gratifying and demanding! The Bible teaches that we are to “…love thy neighbor as thyself” (Matthew 19:19, KJV).
The most compelling call to ministry is found in Matthew 5-7, in a Bible passage we call “The Sermon on the Mount.” In these verses we find Jesus is being followed by multitudes of people who have come from far and near. All were seeking Him, drawn by the excitement of seeing something unexplainable happening, miraculous healings and deliverances, and preaching! No one knew what He would do next, but they all were willing to wait to see. They all needed and wanted help! This is ministry!
When people began to see the many miracles of healing, they brought their friends and loved ones. All were hoping for a personal touch or word. Jesus had little rest and little “me” time. Rather than fuss and complain, Jesus took it all in stride. This was His mission: “…to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke19:10
Jesus helped others! He went out of His way to minister to the needs of people, primarily helping them to understand their need to be saved from the penalty of sin and to be born again in a spiritual sense. Apart from accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior, there is no forgiveness of sin, and no entrance into the kingdom of God.
Helping others is a worthy ministry! It is wonderful to see the shine of joy and relief on a face when help has arrived! It is personally gratifying to help!
Going the extra mile requires a personal commitment to helping others. It often requires being inconvenienced-an all hours of the day or night commitment as needs arise, and lots of love and mercy towards those in need.
Skills needed are:
a commitment to ministering to the needs of others
requires love, mercy, patience, kindness, and a desire to help
the ability to listen without always giving advice
sharing out of your personal resources or finding resources
willingness to provide physical care and aid (through resources or personal attention)
friendliness and concern
If you have a boundary or limit as to your willingness to minister in specific ways, be sure it will be tested. Be prepared to extend yourself beyond your experience and comfort zone.
Ministry is a wonderful adventure that causes us to seek our Lord for help in time of need. Don’t miss out!
