By Glen Bowman, Minister at 3rd & Kilgore Church of Christ
During the last couple weeks, we have looked at helping people emotionally and helping people physically. These are things that Jesus did, and we should go and do likewise! However, the Bible spends far more time discussing how Jesus helped people spiritually. Let’s look at this idea and how we can follow in His steps to do the same!
First, we need to realize the value of someone’s soul. Jesus said, “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26). The answer is nothing. We can’t redeem our own soul…only Jesus can! Therefore, we shouldn’t be chasing after the things of this world at the expense of our soul. Likewise, we need to realize that the greatest gift that we can give is to help someone seek their soul’s salvation!
Second, just because someone enters a relationship with Christ doesn’t mean that they are ok for the rest of eternity. Peter warns that it’s even worse for someone to know Jesus and turn awayfrom Him than to never know Him (2 Peter 2:20-22). Jesus even describes the possibility of an evil spirit leaving someone, then later returning with seven more, making that person worse off than when he started (Matthew 12:43-45). Therefore, even our church family may need spiritual help at times!
Third, we need to realize that there’s strength in numbers. This is more than the Golden State Warriors trademark…it’s a biblical truth! Ecclesiastes 4:9, 10 says that “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!” We need to be there to pick up our brother and sister instead of merelywondering what happened to them.
Fourth, we should be building people up ALL the time. Ephesians 4:29 says to “let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.” Can you imagine ONLY saying things that build people up? Yet that’s what God is telling us to do! We can and should “pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding” (Romans 14:19). Building others up can benefit both us and them!
I looked up what is means to “build up,” because I had a concept of what it meant, but I wanted a tangible definition. Here are three that go together to explain the biblical concept: support someone, make a person stronger, and to increase or strengthen by adding gradually. Building people up isn’t an overnight process…it takes time. The goal is to make them stronger spiritually by supporting them and helping them to take steps in growth. They probably won’t walk on water tomorrow, but that’s ok if they’re growing as they should!
Finally, we should consider the blessings of helping people spiritually. James 5:19, 20 says “if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.” Wouldn’t we want someone to save us from death if we were headed that way? Then let’s do the same for our anyone who we think needs the help. They may not appreciate it in that moment, but they may appreciate it in eternity!
