How To Help Someone

I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you —Acts 20:20

Paul taught people by providing information and by being an example of what he taught. Here is a simple, but profound truth that will greatly help you in your dealings with people who have problems: There are two things that you can never give anyone. You cannot give a person spirituality and you cannot give a person character. You cannot make someone spiritual and you cannot make them live right.

People often lament, “I wish I could change so-and-so (husband, wife, children, boss, etc.).” The first thing you must realize is you cannot MAKE or FORCE anyone to change. It will be a happy day when you settle that truth in your heart and realize you are not “God Jr.”

So what can you give people to help them? Here is a liberating truth: There are basically only THREE things that you can give people–

1. INFORMATION. You can teach them what they need to know to resolve their problem. Provide them with the information to make it happen.

2. ILLUSTRATION. You can demonstrate what spirituality and integrity looks like by being a good example before them. Let them “see” true spirituality and character in action.

• As Paul said, “Those things, which ye have… heard, and seen in me , DO.” (Phil. 4:9). People not only need to hear what you say, they also need to see it demonstrated in your life.
• Those are the ONLY two things you can give people. If that cannot help them then there is nothing more you can do to help them except…

3. INTERCESSION. Information and a good example is all you can give. And if they reject that, you can’t help them except to intercede for them in prayer.