Willingness to help others without delay

Proverbs. 3:27-28 (GN)

Whenever you possibly can, do good to those who need it. Never tell your neighbors to wait until tomorrow if you can help them now.”

Proverbs 3 might be the best of all 31 Proverbs chapters (by the way, you realize that you can read one Proverb chapter corresponding to the day of the month….do this for a couple of years and you’ll be much, much wiser!).  Proverbs 3 contains at least 17 promises and, according to Joshua 23:14, all His promises come true.  Proverbs 3:5-6 might be the most favorite life verses of any other verses in the entire Bible. 

Proverbs 3:27-28 speaks about two basic principles—don’t delay in doing good and don’t lie.  The book of James is the proverbs of the New Testament and James 2:15-16 elaborates a bit on these two proverbial statements.  James asks, “What use is that?” if you know someone is hurting and asks for your help and you don’t give them what they need. 

Jesus told the story of the man awakened at midnight by a neighbor needing something to serve a visitor.  The awakened person initially responds as any of us probably would……”Go away, we’re asleep, I cannot get up and give you anything”.  Yet, eventually he did get up and helped his neighbor.  Now, indeed, the context of this story is to keep asking and seeking and knocking, but it also shows the ultimate willingness of a person to help someone else in need.  It is interesting that most people don’t readily want to help or get involved when asked initially, but upon further thought (and perhaps reminders of who controls their heart), they affirmatively respond. 

The message from Proverbs 3:28 is very strong----NEVER tell your neighbor to wait for your help if you know that you can help them now.  To fail to help is a lie and is wrong.  One of the best gauges of Christian service and selflessness is the ready willingness to help others immediately when needs arise.  Whenever you respond like this, there is always great reward in the form of personal self-worth and satisfaction that comes from the Lord Himself. 

Pray for the opportunity to help someone else in need and even pray that such a need will come to your attention within a day or two after reading this.