There is a Tamil saying that means: “A timely help is greater than the whole world.” Human beings who are social beings are expected to help one another. Moreover, the believers are called to be supportive of each other and do good to all. In a medical emergency, the first hour is called ‘golden hour,’ if that person is brought to hospital within that time, s/he could be saved from possible death.
1) Simple help: “If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?” (James 2:15,16)
2) Shrewd help: Judah wisely advised his brothers not to kill Joseph but sell him as slave. Judah’s timely advice saved him, but Reuben had good intentions but did not intervene at the right time. (Genesis 37: 21, 26, 29,30)
3) Stewardship: St. James writes: “So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.” (James 4:17) A government officer has enormous power. Many times, he does not use it to do good. Christians should be effective stewards of our power, influence, and possession.
4) Strategic intervention: Esther did not come to that position in a normal way; however, she was there. She had to intervene at the right time. Mordecai warned Esther: “For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14) Eli, though failed to teach his children to listen to God, taught Samuel at the right time. (I Samuel 3: 7-10)
Timely help, words, encouragement, discipline, facilitation, connections, recommendations, advice, suggestions and presence could change lives. Using all our resources, influence, power, and authority for good is a daily duty of a disciple.
Do I offer timely help as a good steward of God’s resources?