Humbly Asking for Help 谦卑求助

[Dexu Xia]

All the believers were together and had everything in common. Acts 2:44

As our party approached, my wife and I started planning. With many people coming, should we pay a caterer to cook? If we do the cooking ourselves, should we buy a barbeque? With a small chance of rain on the day, should we buy a tent too? Soon our party was getting expensive, and even a little antisocial. By trying to provide everything ourselves, we were missing an opportunity to receive the help of others.

The Bible’s vision of community is one of both giving and receiving. Even before the fall, Adam needed help (Genesis 2:18), and we’re called to seek others’ advice (Proverbs 15:22) and share our burdens (Galatians 6:2). The early church held “everything in common,” benefiting from each other’s “property and possessions” (Acts 2:44-45). Instead of living independently, they shared, borrowed, gave, and received in beautiful interdependence.

We ended up asking guests to bring a salad or dessert to our party. Our neighbors brought their barbeque, and a friend brought his tent. Asking for help enabled us to forge closer relationships, and the food people made brought variety and delight. In an age like ours, being self-sufficient can be a source of pride. But God gives His grace “to the humble” (James 4:6), including those who humbly ask for help. By:  Sheridan Voysey

What stops you from asking for help? What do you currently need that you could borrow instead of buy?

Dear God, thank You for making us relational creatures. Please help me to live humbly, sharing both my wealth and needs with others.

信的人都在一处，凡物公用。—使徒行传2章44节

我和妻子打算举办一个派对，随着时间将近，我们不免忧心：有很多人要来，我们是否要向餐馆订购食物？如果我们自己预备食物，是否要买一个烤肉架？纵然那天不太可能会下雨，但我们是否也应该买顶帐篷？如此一来，这场派对的花费就会变得越来越高，而且也没有给其他人机会参与预备的工作。我们样样都想自己来，就错失了接受他人帮助的机会。

对于基督徒群体，圣经的教导是要我们为人付出，也接受别人的帮助。即使是在人类堕落之前，亚当也需要帮手（创世记2章18节）。圣经教导我们要参考别人的建议（箴言15章22节），也要让别人分担我们的重担（加拉太书6章2节）。在初代教会中，众人“凡物公用”，彼此分享“田产、家业”（使徒行传2章44-45节）。他们不会独善其身，而是美好地相互依存，彼此分享、借用、给予和接受。最后，我们决定请每位朋友带些沙拉或甜点来参加派对。邻居带来烤肉架，另一个朋友带了帐篷。寻求帮助使我们与其他人建立更坚定的情谊，而众人准备的食物也更多样化，为大家带来更多乐趣。在我们的这个时代，若样样都能自给自足，可能会让人心生骄傲。但上帝“赐恩给谦卑的人”（雅各书4章6节），包括谦卑寻求帮助的人。作者：  霍薛顿

是什么阻止了你向人求助？你现在需要的哪些物品是可以向别人借，而不必花钱买？

上帝，感谢祢让我们彼此间有相互依存的关系。
求祢帮助我谦卑地生活，能与邻居有福同享，有难同当。