When we help in a time of
need, this is usually a one-time event, and it rarely causes any negative
emotions to rise up in our heart. When the crowds asked Him, Jesus told them,
“Whoever has two tunics is
to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise” (Luke 3:10-11). Pure religion that is undefiled before
God the Father is to visit the orphans and widows in their affliction (James 1:17). There is a time and a place to help one another (1 John 3:17).
However, there is a thin
line between the concepts of helping and enabling a friend, neighbor, workmate
or family member. Enabling drives us to help another person in inordinate ways,
and to feel responsible and worried about things that this person should
actually do for him/herself. Enabling allows addictive and irresponsible
behavior in the person we are helping. Enabling often goes one step further
into protecting the person from the consequences of his/her actions.
We make excuses for the person we enable. We do things
for them that is their responsibility. We feel obligated to solve their
problems. We try to make life easier for them at our own expense. Then we feel
negative emotions rising up within our soul, because we feel taken advantage of
and unappreciated. Enabling is as addictive as any drug and quite destructive
both to our self and to the person we are enabling. The balance comes in when
we help people as Christ directs us to assist them, instead of by doing things
for them that they should do for themselves (Ephesians 2:10).
The Bible tells us that every person should bear their
own burden (Galatians 6:5). It clearly
states that those who do not work, should not eat (2 Thessalonians 3:10-15). When we enable
others, we prevent them from growing up as independent individuals who follow
God’s will for their life. God makes His grace abound to those who trust in
Him, giving us the sufficiency to accomplish what He calls us to do by His Holy
Spirit (2 Corinthians 9:8). There is so
much that we cannot do for our self, however, and these are the things that God
does for us. He is our enabler in the best of ways.
God reveals Christ
to us and in us (John 16:14-15), guides us
into all truth (John 16:13),
regenerates us (John 3:5-8; Titus 3:5), sanctifies us (2 Thessalonians. 2:13; 1 Peter 1:2; Romans 5:16), washes and renews us (Titus 3:5) and strengthens our spirit (Ephesians
3:16). He also leads us (Romans
8:14; Galatians 5:18; Matthew 4:1; Luke 4:1), empowers us (Luke 4:14; 24:49; Romans 15:19; Acts 1:8), fills us (Ephesians 5:18; Acts 2:4; 4:8,
31; 9:17) and dwells in us (Romans
8:9; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 2 Timothy 1:14; John 14:17).
He sets us free from the law
of sin and death (Romans 8:2),
quickens our mortal bodies (Romans 8:11)
and grants us everlasting life (Galatians 6:8).
He teaches us to pray (Romans
8:26-27; Jude 1:20), distributes His
spiritual gifts and manifestations in us (1 Corinthians 12:4, 8-10; Hebrews
2:4), anoints us for ministry (Luke
4:18; Acts 10:38) and brings unity and
oneness to the body (Ephesians 4:3; 2:14-18). He proves we are His children and produces in us the
evidence of His presence (Romans 8:16; Galatians 5:22-23), sealing us until the day of redemption (Ephesians
1:13; 4:30).
The Holy Spirit transforms
us into the image of Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18), gives us access to God the Father (Ephesians 2:18), reveals the deep things of God to us (1
Corinthians 2:10), reveals to us what
God gave us (1 Corinthians 2:12),
reveals the mystery of God to us (Ephesians 3:5) and brings us
into liberty (2 Corinthians 3:17). He is also our guarantee and
deposit of our future resurrection (2 Corinthians 1:22, 5:5). He speaks to, in, and through us (1
Corinthians 12:3; 1 Timothy 4:1; Revelation 2:11; Hebrews 3:7; Matthew 10:20;
Acts 2:4; 8:29; 10:19; 11:12, 28; 13:2; 16:6,7; 21:4,11).
The Holy Spirit sheds God’s
love into our hearts (Romans 5:5),
bears witness to the truth in our conscience (Romans 9:1), teaches us (1 Corinthians 2:13; John 14:26), gives us joy (1 Thessalonians 1:6), comforts us (Acts 9:31) and brings things to our remembrance (John
14:26). The Holy Spirit enables us to
wait on God (Galatians 5:5), to
obey His truth (1 Peter 1:22) and to
preach the gospel (1 Peter 1:12). Jesus
is our all in all (Colossians 1:17) and
He lives within us by the Holy Spirit, enabling, leading and guiding all of our
steps (Galatians 5:25).
Prayer:
Father God, You have done
everything for us. Without You, we can do nothing (John
15:5). We can do all things, only when
You enable us (Philippians 4:13). We
trust and to obey You (Psalm 78:7).
As we put on Christ each and every day (Romans 13:14; Galatians 3:27), we walk in Your Spirit by Your direction to
accomplish greater works than Jesus did (John 14:12), because we are His Body (1
Corinthians 12:27). Remind us to pray
without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
and to give You all the glory for everything we accomplish in Your name (1
Corinthians 10:31).
Thought for the Day:
God is working in us, enabling us both to desire
and to have the power to work out His will in our lives. - Philippians 2:13
