Topical Encyclopedia
Helping, as a biblical concept, is deeply rooted in the character of God and the teachings of Jesus Christ. It encompasses acts of service, charity, and support, reflecting the love and compassion that God shows to humanity. The Bible provides numerous examples and teachings on the importance of helping others, emphasizing it as a fundamental aspect of Christian living.
Old Testament FoundationsThe Old Testament lays the groundwork for the principle of helping others, often highlighting God's concern for the poor, the widow, the orphan, and the stranger. In
Deuteronomy 15:11, the Israelites are commanded, "For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you to open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor in your land." This directive underscores the expectation that God's people should be generous and willing to assist those in need.
The book of Proverbs also offers wisdom on helping others, stating, "Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and He will reward them for what they have done" (
Proverbs 19:17). This verse highlights the reciprocal nature of helping, where acts of kindness are seen as service to God Himself.
New Testament TeachingsThe New Testament further develops the theme of helping, with Jesus Christ serving as the ultimate example. His ministry was marked by acts of healing, feeding the hungry, and offering comfort to the afflicted. In
Matthew 25:35-40, Jesus teaches about the final judgment, where helping others is equated with serving Him: "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 took Me in... Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me."
The Apostle Paul also emphasizes the importance of helping others within the Christian community. In
Galatians 6:2, he writes, "Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." This instruction reflects the communal nature of the early church, where believers were encouraged to support each other in practical ways.
The Role of the ChurchThe early church exemplified the principle of helping through communal living and sharing of resources.
Acts 2:44-45 describes the early believers: "All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need." This model of mutual aid and generosity became a hallmark of the Christian community.
The Epistle of James further reinforces the necessity of helping others as an expression of genuine faith.
James 2:15-17 challenges believers: "If a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace, keep warm and well fed,' but does nothing to meet their physical needs, what good is it? So too, faith by itself, if it does not result in action, is dead."
Practical ApplicationsHelping others is not limited to financial assistance but includes acts of kindness, encouragement, and support. The parable of the Good Samaritan (
Luke 10:25-37) illustrates that helping transcends social and ethnic boundaries, calling believers to show mercy and compassion to all.
In practical terms, Christians are encouraged to use their gifts and resources to serve others, as stated in
1 Peter 4:10: "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace." This stewardship involves recognizing that all resources and abilities are entrusted by God for the purpose of building up the body of Christ and reaching out to the world.
Helping, therefore, is a tangible expression of the love and grace that believers have received from God, and it serves as a powerful testimony to the transformative power of the Gospel.
Topical Bible Verses
Matthew 25:34-40Then shall the King say to them on his right hand, Come, you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
Topicalbible.orgJames 1:27
Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
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Luke 12:33
Sell that you have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that fails not, where no thief approaches, neither moth corrupts.
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Ephesians 5:1
Be you therefore followers of God, as dear children;
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1 Timothy 2:11-12
Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.
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Matthew 7:21-23
Not every one that said to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven.
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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
p. pr. & vb. n.) of Help.
Greek
998. boethos --helping, a helper...helping, a helper. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: boethos Phonetic
Spelling: (bo-ay-thos') Short Definition: a helper Definition: a helper.
...3100. matheteuo -- to be a disciple, to make a disciple
... Cognate: 3100 (from 3101 , "disciple") -- to disciple, iehelping someone to the
Word of God to become a matured, growing (literally, "a learner," a true Christ...
4943. sunupourgeo -- to help together
... Word Origin from sun and hupourgeo (to render service, assist) Definition to help
together NASB Word Usage joining inhelping (1). help together....
3618. oikodomeo -- to build a house
... 3618 (from 3624 , "a house" and , "to build") -- properly, to build a house (, edifice);
(figuratively) to -- literally, " someone up,"helping them to stand...
1936. epithesis -- a laying on, an assault
... It is the principal means of "ordaining" someone to ministry, but should also be
a regular practice in the church whenhelping someone confirm (discover) God's...
Strong's Hebrew
5583. sead -- to support, sustain... supporting (1).
helping. (Aramaic) corresponding to ca'ad; to aid --
helping. see
HEBREW ca'ad. 5582, 5583. sead. 5584 . Strong's Numbers.
3444. yeshuah -- salvation
... victories (1), victory (1). deliverance, health,helping, salvation, save,
saving health, welfare. Feminine passive participle of...
5826. azar -- to help, succor
... root Definition to help, succor NASB Word Usage ally (1), furthered (1), granted
(1), help (38), helped (19), helper (6), helpers (2),helping (1), helps (8...
Library
OnHelping the Poor.
... Book IV. Sec. I."OnHelping the Poor. Those Who Have No Children Should
Adopt Orphans, and Treat Them as Their Own Children. I...
"The Prophets of GodHelping Them"
... After the Exile Chapter 46 "The Prophets of GodHelping Them". Close by the
Israelites who had set themselves to the task of rebuilding...
There's More of God Since Jesus Went Back.
... like this: up at dawn likely"He was ever an early riser"chores about the place,
the cow, maybe, and the kindling and fuel for the day,helping to care for...
Letter clxxx. To the Master Sophronius, on Behalf of Eunathius.
... On thinking in what way I could be useful to him, I did find one means ofhelping
him out of his difficulties, and that is by making him known to your...
Paul and his Requests for Prayer (Continued)
... "Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver; in whom we trust that
he will yet deliver us; Ye alsohelping together in prayer for us. What then?...
Association
... And what is it that makes us call the ant and the bee the wisest of animals, except
that they do, in some degree, behave like men, inhelping one another, and...
Preface
... Jesus was never concerned about speculation nor mere discussion; He was too
intent onhelping people.... It is concerned only withhelping us....
Fellow-Followers
... For the ends of the earth are come upon us, for thehelping touch of our hands,
or for the drag-back to be overcome by some one's elsehelping touch....
The Object of the Following Treatise. ...
... these instructions, but let thy heart keep my words:" [426] remembering these
admonitions, I say, I, Peregrinus, am persuaded, that, the Lordhelping me, it...
The Hands of the Father.
... of loving words, of high thoughts, of speechless feelings; and, between, he turned
to do the same thing in deed, namely, in loving word, inhelping thought, in...
Thesaurus
Helping (35 Occurrences)...Helping (35 Occurrences).
... Acts 13:5 And at Salamis they were preaching the word of
God in the Synagogues of the Jews: and John was with them,
helping them.
...Zerub'babel (23 Occurrences)
... son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of
God which is at Jerusalem; and with them were the prophets of God,helping them...
Kelaiah (1 Occurrence)
... In parallel list of 1 Esdras 9:23, he again has a double name-"Colius" and "Calitas."
A "Kelita" is named ashelping Ezra at the expounding of the law...
Kinds (110 Occurrences)
... witness is given of her good works; if she has had the care of children, if she
has been kind to travellers, washing the feet of the saints,helping those who...
Jozadak (5 Occurrences)
... son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of
God which is at Jerusalem; and with them were the prophets of God,helping them...
Joining (43 Occurrences)
... 2 Corinthians 1:11 you alsohelping together on our behalf by your supplication;
that, for the gift bestowed on us by means of many, thanks may be given by...
Justus (3 Occurrences)
... These three alone, at that particular time-from among the Jewish
Christians-werehelping him in the work of the gospel in Rome....
Jo'zadak (5 Occurrences)
... son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of
God which is at Jerusalem; and with them were the prophets of God,helping them...
Jethro (10 Occurrences)
... he received a hearty welcome into the household of Jethro on account of the courtesy
and kindness he had shown to the priest's 7 daughters inhelping them to...
Lacedaemonians
... been deprived of independence in 146 BC, and Sparta was only obliged to lend assistance
to Rome and may be supposed to have been doing so inhelping the Jews...
Resources
Where/how do you draw the line between helping someone and allowing someone to take advantage of you? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the spiritual gift of helps? | GotQuestions.orgHow should a Christian view ADD and ADHD? | GotQuestions.orgHelping: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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