Mark 9:22 And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.â€
Acts 20:35 (Show me Acts 20) In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’†<< I love the Lord and I love prayer. I've prayed, so are many others. I sincerely need help. What kind of world is this when Christians only offer prayer and no help? I'm not being bitter. I'm simply trying to understand. I pray for someone to please help me and for the understanding of why Christians are not helping each other. Please, Lord...
Hi Jonathan, this is a deep question. I am sorry to hear that you are not being helped. I'm not sure I have the answer for you, but I will share some scriptures, thoughts, and observations, ask some clarifying questions, and pray for you. By your description it sounds like you're in need of financial help. James wrote that if we see a brother in need and "bless" them with our words but do nothing to help them, our religion is worthless. So I guess the question is, are you in fellowship with a local church? Are they aware of your need? I believe God's primary plan for our help is the local body of believers that we are connected with. If you are connected, and they are aware, then scripturally we should be helping each other. My observation is that sometimes churches do not have much left over after paying for the mortgage and salaries. This observation comes from a history of serving in children's ministry and missions.
I don't know your situation, and I am not accusing, criticizing, or assuming anything. Just trying to answer your question, ok? Are you doing what you can do to help yourself? The scripture says that if a man won't work (assuming they are able), neither let him eat. Are you able to work? Are you willing to work? Are you actively looking for work? Are you serving where you can? When you pray, what are you believing for? The bible says "pray believing". What do you believe God is going to do? Do you believe that he will provide?
I have struggles with the same issue, but in the sense that we are missionaries, ready to go, but with no provision to go. I believe the church (at large) should be sending missionaries, as many as are willing and equipped to go. We are in a season where seasoned, fruitful missionaries are spending great amounts of time stateside trying to raise the monthly support to stay in the field that God called them to. They are "making tents", as Paul did, to make ends meet. Many in the church (as in America) are struggling to make basic ends meet. I believe God is calling us to a season of unprecedented faith, where we absolutely depend on him for supernatural provision when the natural provision fails -- including the church and the economy. There is the temptation to be bitter, as you said, but the Lord is calling us to a more radical faith response.
So my prayer for you, Jonathan, is that God will meet all of your needs according to his great riches in Christ Jesus. I pray that your faith will stand firm, that you will believe God's promise in your situation. I pray that you will have the wisdom and strength to do all that you can to align with God's answer for you. I pray that those you are in fellowship with, and are aware of your need, will discern what the Lord wants them to do to help you, and that they will promptly do it.
