We all know what it’s like to have a sick child, spouse or loved one that needs our care during their sickness and what it can be like for us to try to sanitize the environment and constantly wash our hands… so that we are able to stay strong and healthy. Often, even with careful washing and sanitizing before too long, we find ourselves not feeling so good. We’ve gotten sick taking care of the sick!
I’ve been thinking about that concept a lot lately. The same thing can happen when we are caring for our “spiritually sick and discouraged” friends and loved ones! I think the chances of “catching” a bad attitude or spiritual sickness is probably even greater within our families! We don’t like it when someone we love is hurting, so naturally, we often hurt with them! When they are angry, we can become angry. When they are upset, we can become upset. When they are “spiritually sick”, we can become “spiritually sick”.
The question today is:
“How Do We Help The Sick Without Getting Sick Ourselves?”
Let’s go to the Bible for the answers.
First, let’s decide if we should comfort the “sick”, knowing that we may become “sick” ourselves.
Well, the Bible says in Galatians 6 verse 2 (KJV), “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”
In I Timothy 5 verse 8 (KJV), we read, “But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.”
Then again Matthew 5 verse 16 (KJV) states, “Let your light so shine before men, that they many see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven”, and in Romans 15 verse 1 (KJV) reads, “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves”.
From these verses, we can see clearly that, we should try our best to help the “sick and discouraged”, despite the chances of “catching” the sickness!
Next, how can we “safeguard” ourselves from getting weak and eventually getting “sick” too?
The devil knows our strengths and our weaknesses! If we are an encourager, he will attack that quality and tempt us to be a discourager! If we have a loving heart, he will attack our heart and try to harden it and plant seeds of anger, hurt and sadness!
How can we protect ourselves from this and become immune to these sicknesses?
The Bible says in Ephesians verses 10 and 11 (KJV), “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil”.
In I Corinthians 16 verse 13 (KJV), “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong”.
Deuteronomy 31 verse 6 (KJV), We can learn from the words that Moses told the children of Israel, “Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee”, also in Isaiah 41 verse 10 (KJV), to Israel, “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”
We can also be comforted knowing that the Bible says in I Corinthians 10 verse 13, (KJV), “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it”.
So, by reading these verses, we see that with God on our side, He will protect us and keep us strong!
What can we do to ready ourselves for helping the “sick and discouraged”?
PRAY!
I Thessalonians 5 verse 17 (KJV), “Pray without ceasing”.
STUDY!
II Timothy 2 verse 15 (KJV), “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
LOVE AS CHRIST!
Luke 3 verses 10 and 11 (KJV), “And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then? He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise”.
John 15 verse 12 (KJV), “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you”.
May we all safeguard our hearts and ready ourselves so that we can always be a help and encouragement to those who are “spiritually sick and discouraged” all the while remaining healthy ourselves!
Kitty Hackney, http://ahappyheart3.blogspot.com/